Nuclear Engineer salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Nuclear Engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $131,850 a year ($63.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,100 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $133,970. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $131,850. There are 0.18 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $136,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,880 | $46.09 |
| 25th percentile | $131,050 | $63.01 |
| Median | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| 75th percentile | $161,310 | $77.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,100 | $78.89 |
| Average (mean) | $136,550 | $65.65 |
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 | $10,987.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,493.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,071.15 |
| Weekly | $2,535.58 |
| Hourly | $63.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nuclear Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $132,440 | n/a |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,300 | 70 |
| Wilmington, NC | $129,710 | 80 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $129,590 | n/a |
| Columbia, SC | $128,340 | 120 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $124,690 | 150 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,510 | 1,260 |
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 |
See Nuclear Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $102,370 | $49.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,090 | $49.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,950 | $49.02 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,360 | $49.69 |
| Engineers, All Other | $118,230 | $56.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $107,630 | $51.74 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Materials Engineer | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Chemical Engineer | $115,890 | $55.72 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,830 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $97,670 | $46.96 |
| Environmental Engineer | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $113,130 | $54.39 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $131,850 a year, or $63.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $164,100 a year. The top 25% earn $161,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,880 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $131,050 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 240 nuclear engineers are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.