Nuclear Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Nuclear Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $180,360 a year ($86.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 840 workers.
Pay ranges from $115,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,940 for the top 10%. That is 35% higher than the national median of $133,970. Pay here is 8% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $195,190. There are 0.27 nuclear engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $169,110, close to the median.
Pay range for nuclear engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $115,490 | $55.52 |
| 25th percentile | $147,520 | $70.93 |
| Median | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| 75th percentile | $196,290 | $94.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,940 | $98.53 |
| Average (mean) | $169,110 | $81.30 |
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 | $15,030 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,515 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,936.92 |
| Weekly | $3,468.46 |
| Hourly | $86.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $180,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Nuclear Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | 230 |
| Richmond, VA | $140,460 | 350 |
| 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for nuclear engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $180,360 a year, or $86.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $115,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of nuclear engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $204,940 a year. The top 25% earn $196,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $115,490 a year, and a quarter of nuclear engineers earn $147,520 or less.
How many nuclear engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 840 nuclear engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.