Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, nuclear engineers earn $161,050 at the median, or about $77.43 an hour. The range runs from $129K at the entry level to $239K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $144,920 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $161K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for nuclear engineers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $134K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,501/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers a genuinely strong financial position for nuclear engineerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear engineers in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland | $156K | $156K |
| Idaho Falls | $134K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $129K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K. Top earners bring in $239K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $195K | +46% | 230 |
| California | $172K | +29% | 1,070 |
| New Mexico | $164K | +23% | 500 |
| Maryland | $158K | +18% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $146K | +9% | 210 |
| New York | $141K | +5% | 150 |
| Florida | $135K | +1% | 120 |
| Illinois | $135K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $134K | +0% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -1% | 340 |
| Alabama | $133K | -1% | 290 |
| Georgia | $132K | -1% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $132K | -2% | 460 |
| Michigan | $130K | -3% | 330 |
| Washington | $129K | -3% | 1,380 |
| Virginia | $129K | -4% | N/A |
| Texas | $128K | -4% | 190 |
| South Carolina | $127K | -6% | 1,440 |
| Maine | $124K | -8% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $161K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $129K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,727/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $161K here vs. $134K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $161K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $161,050 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $128,790, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $239,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,069/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear engineers salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nuclear engineers salary is worth about $144,920 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.