Nuclear Engineer salary in Massachusetts
Nuclear Engineers in Massachusetts earn a median of $145,760 a year ($70.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,710 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $133,970. Massachusetts ranks 5th 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 $134,020, close to the median.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,750 | $32.57 |
| 25th percentile | $103,790 | $49.90 |
| Median | $145,760 | $70.08 |
| 75th percentile | $161,620 | $77.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,710 | $83.99 |
| Average (mean) | $134,020 | $64.43 |
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 | $12,146.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,073.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,606.15 |
| Weekly | $2,803.08 |
| Hourly | $70.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nuclear Engineer salary in cities in Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $144,830 | 220 |
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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $109,420 | $52.61 |
| Civil Engineer | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $119,300 | $57.36 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $138,230 | $66.46 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $127,570 | $61.33 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $167,600 | $80.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $131,260 | $63.11 |
| Environmental Engineer | $115,800 | $55.67 |
| Chemical Engineer | $118,000 | $56.73 |
| Materials Engineer | $114,100 | $54.85 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $149,470 | $71.86 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,210 | $63.08 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $114,640 | $55.11 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in Massachusetts is $145,760 a year, or $70.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in Massachusetts earn at least $174,710 a year. The top 25% earn $161,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,750 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $103,790 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in Massachusetts?
About 210 nuclear engineers are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.