Nuclear Engineer salary in California
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400 a year ($82.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $109,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,740 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $133,970. California ranks 2nd of 19 states for nuclear engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.06 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $160,980, close to the median.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| 25th percentile | $135,400 | $65.09 |
| Median | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| 75th percentile | $176,390 | $84.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,740 | $99.87 |
| Average (mean) | $160,980 | $77.39 |
Half of nuclear engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,366.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,183.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,630.77 |
| Weekly | $3,315.38 |
| Hourly | $82.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for nuclear engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $172,400 |
| New Mexico | $164,300 |
| Maryland | $157,960 |
| Massachusetts | $145,760 |
| New York | $141,200 |
| Florida | $135,400 |
| Illinois | $134,510 |
| Idaho | $133,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,250 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2161. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nuclear engineer make in California?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in California is $172,400 a year, or $82.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $109,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in California?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in California earn at least $207,740 a year. The top 25% earn $176,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $109,990 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $135,400 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in California?
About 1,070 nuclear engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.