Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Tennessee, nuclear technicians earn $91,980 at the median, or about $44.22 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $102,450 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $92K get you in Tennessee?
About nuclear technicians
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for nuclear technicians in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $110K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for nuclear technicianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $79K | -14% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,731/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear technician a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $92K here vs. $110K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Tennessee pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $91,980 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,850, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $121,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,091/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 19.9% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $102,450 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.