Nuclear Engineer salary in South Carolina
Nuclear Engineers in South Carolina earn a median of $126,570 a year ($60.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,740 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $133,970. South Carolina ranks 18th of 19 states for nuclear engineers pay. There are 0.62 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $125,440, close to the median.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,970 | $40.37 |
| 25th percentile | $104,730 | $50.35 |
| Median | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| 75th percentile | $138,250 | $66.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,740 | $76.80 |
| Average (mean) | $125,440 | $60.31 |
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 | $10,547.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,273.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,868.08 |
| Weekly | $2,434.04 |
| Hourly | $60.85 |
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 South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $132,440 | n/a |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $131,850 | 240 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $129,590 | n/a |
| Columbia, SC | $128,340 | 120 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $124,690 | 150 |
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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,600 | $48.85 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,580 | $50.28 |
| Electrical Engineer | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,490 | $53.12 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $113,720 | $54.67 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $125,110 | $60.15 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $137,030 | $65.88 |
| Materials Engineer | $121,610 | $58.47 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,140 | $46.22 |
| Chemical Engineer | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,120 | $50.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $136,990 | $65.86 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in South Carolina is $126,570 a year, or $60.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in South Carolina earn at least $159,740 a year. The top 25% earn $138,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,970 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $104,730 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in South Carolina?
About 1,440 nuclear engineers are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.