Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Virginia, nuclear engineers earn $128,890 at the median, or about $61.97 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $192K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $135,974 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 21% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $129K get you in Virginia?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Nuclear engineers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $192K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $140K | +9% | 350 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $111K | -14% | 1,260 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,889/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Virginia pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Virginia?
The median is $128,890 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,480, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $192,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,663/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nuclear engineers salary is worth about $135,974 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.