Nuclear Engineer salary in Pennsylvania
Nuclear Engineers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $133,250 a year ($64.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,110 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $133,970. Pennsylvania ranks 10th of 19 states for nuclear engineers pay. There are 0.06 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $134,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,250 | $40.03 |
| 25th percentile | $103,680 | $49.85 |
| Median | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| 75th percentile | $162,100 | $77.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,110 | $80.34 |
| Average (mean) | $134,740 | $64.78 |
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 | $11,104.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,552.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,125 |
| Weekly | $2,562.50 |
| Hourly | $64.06 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | 230 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,250 | 170 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| Engineers, All Other | $108,950 | $52.38 |
| Environmental Engineer | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $122,560 | $58.92 |
| Chemical Engineer | $116,970 | $56.23 |
| Materials Engineer | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $80,300 | $38.61 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in Pennsylvania is $133,250 a year, or $64.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in Pennsylvania earn at least $167,110 a year. The top 25% earn $162,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,250 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $103,680 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in Pennsylvania?
About 340 nuclear engineers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.