SOC 17-2161 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Nuclear Engineers — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median wage for Nuclear Engineers in Chicago, IL is $134,510 per year, close to the national median of $133,970 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Nuclear Engineers in Chicago, IL is $134,510 per year, close to the national median of $133,970 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $108,690 and $164,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $105,920 and the ninetieth at $190,800.
Employment stands at 710, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 716 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 48th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $105,920 | −20.9% |
| 25th | $108,690 | −18.9% |
| Median (50th) | $134,510 | +0.4% |
| 75th | $164,750 | +23.0% |
| 90th | $190,800 | +42.4% |
| Mean | $141,630 | +5.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $134,510 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$134,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$134,510US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $134,510 a year, 0.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $105,920 to $190,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 710 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Nuclear Engineers in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $134,510, or $64.67 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $133,970, so pay in Chicago, IL is 0.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $190,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $105,920 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 710 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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