Nuclear Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Nuclear Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $134,510 a year ($64.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 710 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,800 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $133,970. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $134,510. There are 0.16 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $141,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,920 | $50.92 |
| 25th percentile | $108,690 | $52.26 |
| Median | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| 75th percentile | $164,750 | $79.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $190,800 | $91.73 |
| Average (mean) | $141,630 | $68.09 |
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 | $11,209.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,604.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,173.46 |
| Weekly | $2,586.73 |
| Hourly | $64.67 |
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 |
See Nuclear Engineer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $121,910 | $58.61 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,860 | $64.35 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 | $53.22 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $125,650 | $60.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| Materials Engineer | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $114,180 | $54.89 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $81,790 | $39.32 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $134,510 a year, or $64.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $190,800 a year. The top 25% earn $164,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,920 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $108,690 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 710 nuclear engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.