Nuclear Technicians Salary
In California, nuclear technicians earn $99,270 at the median, or about $47.72 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $93,527 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 39.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $99K get you in California?
About nuclear technicians
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What this looks like in California
Nuclear technicians pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $110K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track nuclear technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,530/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nuclear technician a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $110K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
California pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in California?
The median is $99,270 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,830, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $115,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,071/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 40.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a nuclear technicians salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 technicians salary is worth about $93,527 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.