Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary
In Illinois, nuclear power reactor operators earn $123,980 at the median, or about $59.6 an hour. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $132,104 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Illinois. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $124K get you in Illinois?
About nuclear power reactor operators
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What this looks like in Illinois
Nuclear power reactor operators pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level nuclear power reactor operators (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track nuclear power reactor operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear power reactor operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear power reactor operators in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear power reactor operators typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,286/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear power reactor operator a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for nuclear power reactor operators?
Illinois pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear power reactor operators make in Illinois?
The median is $123,980 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,760, and experienced nuclear power reactor operators can clear $133,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,446/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 18.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear power reactor operators salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 power reactor operators salary is worth about $132,104 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear power reactor operators 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.