Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Richmond, VA, nuclear technicians earn $122,210 at the median, or about $58.76 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $158K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $124,882 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,655/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $122K actually covers in Richmond, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). 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 Richmond
Richmond sits well above the national pay line for nuclear technicians, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $110K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,655/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Richmond offers a genuinely strong financial position for nuclear technicians at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $158K or more, a $71K 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Richmond numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Richmond?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,655/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Richmond?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,381/month. At HUD’s $1,655/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Richmond?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $122K here vs. $110K nationally.
How does Richmond compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Richmond pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $122,210 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,170, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $157,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,314/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 22.6% 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 Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (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 $124,882 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.