SOC 19-4051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Nuclear Technicians — California
California
In California the median wage is $99,270.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage is $99,270. That is 10.0% lower than the national median of $110,240. Pay ranges from under $58,830 at the tenth percentile to more than $115,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $94,470 to $112,860.
California ranks number 12th out of 14 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 215th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,830 | −46.6% |
| 25th | $94,470 | −14.3% |
| Median (50th) | $99,270 | −10.0% |
| 75th | $112,860 | +2.4% |
| 90th | $115,630 | +4.9% |
| Mean | $94,690 | −14.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $99,270 buys what $89,675 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,270as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,675US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,270 a year, 10.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,830 to $115,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 12th of 14 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Nuclear Technicians in California?
The median annual wage is $99,270, or $47.72 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 $110,240, so pay in California is 10.0% lower. 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 California earns more than $115,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,830 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.
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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