Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary
In South Carolina, nuclear power reactor operators earn $118,620 at the median, or about $57.03 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $127,316 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 16.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $119K get you in South Carolina?
About nuclear power reactor operators
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Nuclear power reactor operators pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $119K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level nuclear power reactor operators (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $41K 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 South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear power reactor operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear power reactor operators in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear power reactor operators typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,149/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear power reactor operator a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $119K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for nuclear power reactor operators?
South Carolina pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear power reactor operators make in South Carolina?
The median is $118,620 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,820, and experienced nuclear power reactor operators can clear $126,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,156/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 17.6% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $127,316 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.