⚛️
Nuclear Power Generation
Exelon, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy
Nuclear Engineers
Nuclear engineers design and test reactor systems, shielding, fuel cycles, and cleanup plans, often using simulations and lab data to predict what will happen before anything is built. The work is unusual because it mixes high-stakes safety decisions with complex physics and long regulatory reviews. The tradeoff is strong pay and meaningful technical work, but the field is small and every decision is watched closely.
Also known as Nuclear EngineerReactor EngineerNuclear Design EngineerNuclear Safety EngineerNuclear Analysis Engineer
Median Salary
$127,520
Mean $134,980
U.S. Workforce
~15K
0.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-1.1%
15.4K to 15.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Nuclear Engineers sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~15K workers, with a median annual pay of $127,520 and roughly 0.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 15.4 K in 2024 to 15.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related engineering field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Nuclear Engineering Analyst and can progress toward Principal Nuclear Engineer. High-value skills usually include Critical Thinking, Science, and MATLAB, Python & Scientific Computing, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Check designs, calculations, and procedures to make sure they meet nuclear safety rules and quality standards.
- Run computer models and lab tests to see how fuel, reactor parts, shielding, and equipment will perform.
- Work with other scientists and engineers to plan experiments and choose the right method for analyzing the results.
- Design or improve reactor cores, sensors, shielding, and control systems.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check designs, calculations, and procedures to make sure they meet nuclear safety rules and quality standards.
02 Run computer models and lab tests to see how fuel, reactor parts, shielding, and equipment will perform.
03 Work with other scientists and engineers to plan experiments and choose the right method for analyzing the results.
04 Design or improve reactor cores, sensors, shielding, and control systems.
05 Plan how reactors, fuel-processing systems, and power plants are built or operated.
06 Develop cleanup plans for sites affected by radiation and ways to reduce radioactive waste.
Industries That Hire
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Nuclear Technology & Equipment
Westinghouse Electric Company, BWX Technologies, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
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Engineering, Procurement & Construction
Bechtel, Jacobs, AECOM
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Defense & Advanced Research
Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, Honeywell
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Medical Isotopes & Radiation Technology
GE HealthCare, Curium, Cardinal Health
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong: the median is $127,520 and the mean is $134,980, which is high for a job that typically starts with a bachelor's degree.
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The work is technically deep and varied, ranging from fuel-cycle design to reactor safety and environmental cleanup.
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You usually do not need prior work experience or on-the-job training to enter the field, which keeps the formal path relatively straightforward.
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The small size of the field can give capable engineers real responsibility early, especially on safety-critical projects.
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The work connects directly to energy reliability, radiation safety, and environmental risk reduction, so the results are tangible.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to slip from 15.4K jobs in 2024 to 15.3K by 2034, a drop of 1.1%, so the field is not growing fast.
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There are only about 0.8K annual openings, so competition for the available jobs can be stiff.
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The field is concentrated in a few industries and locations, which can limit where you can live and work.
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Every design and procedure has to satisfy strict safety and compliance standards, so approval cycles can be slow and paperwork-heavy.
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The job has a career ceiling in the sense that advancement often depends on specialized projects or moving into management, not just staying technical.
Career Progression
Nuclear Engineering Analyst
0-3 years
$70K-$95K
Supports modeling, data review, and documentation while learning the safety rules and technical standards that shape the field.
Nuclear Engineer
3-7 years
$96K-$145K
Owns parts of reactor design, fuel analysis, testing, and compliance work, and this is the level that matches the core role.
Senior Nuclear Engineer THIS ROLE
7-12 years
$146K-$180K
Leads complex projects, reviews the work of other engineers, and makes more of the key technical tradeoffs.
Principal Nuclear Engineer
12+ years
$181K-$225K
Sets technical direction for major programs, resolves high-risk design issues, and often advises on regulatory or safety strategy.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related engineering field
The standard entry point, held by 80.95% of workers in this role.
Master's degree in nuclear engineering or reactor physics
A smaller but important path for deeper specialization, held by 19.05% of workers in this role.
Bachelor's degree plus Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or other specialized certification
An alternative route for engineers who want broader responsibility on regulated projects and sign-off authority.
Key Skills
Technical
Critical Thinking 78%
Science 78%
MATLAB, Python & Scientific Computing 77%
Reactor Physics, MCNP & Safety Analysis 77%
ANSYS, RELAP5 & Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling 76%
Nuclear Codes, Standards & Licensing Compliance 76%
Mathematics 75%
Monitoring & Systems Diagnostics 75%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionClear Written CommunicationCross-Functional CollaborationAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+-1.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 15.4K to 15.3 K over the next decade, representing -1.1% growth. Around 0.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.