Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Birmingham, AL, nuclear technicians earn $126,930 at the median, or about $61.03 an hour. The range runs from $100K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $138,509 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,266/month, or 16.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $127K get you in Birmingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Birmingham’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). 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 technicians
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What this looks like in Birmingham
Birmingham sits well above the national pay line for nuclear technicians, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $110K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,266/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Birmingham offers a genuinely strong financial position for nuclear technicianss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear technicians in metros near Birmingham, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County | $108K | $118K |
| Knoxville | $79K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Birmingham, AL
Entry-level nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $136K | +23% | 60 |
| New York | $130K | +18% | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $124K | +13% | 310 |
| Texas | $124K | +13% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $113K | +3% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $110K | +0% | 420 |
| Illinois | $110K | +0% | 780 |
| Alabama | $110K | +0% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $108K | -2% | 750 |
| Washington | $108K | -2% | 90 |
| Missouri | $105K | -5% | 150 |
| California | $99K | -10% | N/A |
| Virginia | $99K | -10% | 680 |
| Tennessee | $92K | -17% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Birmingham numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Birmingham?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,266/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Birmingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $100K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,987/month. At HUD’s $1,266/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear technician a high-paying job in Birmingham?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $127K here vs. $110K nationally.
How does Birmingham compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Birmingham pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Birmingham, AL?
The median is $126,930 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $99,780, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $162,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Birmingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,611/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,266/month, which eats 16.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear technicians salary go in Birmingham?
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (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 technicians salary is worth about $138,509 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear technicians 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.