Nuclear Engineers Salary in CA
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Nuclear Engineers in CA have a median annual salary of $172,400, with 1,070 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $109,990 at the 10th percentile to $207,740 at the 90th percentile.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22
Salary overview
Median annual salary
$172,400
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$82.88
Employment
1,070
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
$109,990
10th
$135,400
25th
$172,400
Median
$176,390
75th
$207,740
90th
Local compared with national
CA
$172,400
Median annual · 2025
United States
$133,970
Median annual · 2025
The CA median is 28.7% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $38,430).
Top skills
- 1.ScienceImportance 4.1
- 2.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.1
- 3.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
- 4.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
- 5.WritingImportance 4.0
- 6.MathematicsImportance 4.0
- 7.MonitoringImportance 4.0
- 8.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.0
- 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 4.0
- 10.Active LearningImportance 3.9
- 11.SpeakingImportance 3.8
- 12.Operations AnalysisImportance 3.8
Career information
Education and experience
- Typical education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
- Job zone
- 4
Technology used
- ANISN dose assessment computer code
- ANSYS simulation software
- BERMUDA nuclear transport computer codes
- C++
- Discrete ordinates DORT dose assessment computer codes
- FOLLOW code
- Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
- Graphics software
- INCORE code
- Linux
- Maplesoft Maple
- Mathematical simulation software
- Mathsoft Mathcad
- MCNP dose assessment computer code
- MERCURE dose assessment computer codes
Common tasks
- Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.
- Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
- Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
- Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
- Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
Related careers
Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
- Power Plant Operators
Nuclear Engineers salary in other locations
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in DCMedian $195,190
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Washington, DCMedian $180,360
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Knoxville, TNMedian $179,660
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in NMMedian $164,300
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $161,050
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in MDMedian $157,960
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Kennewick, WAMedian $156,460
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Chattanooga, TNMedian $146,850
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in MAMedian $145,760
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Boston, MAMedian $144,830
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in NYMedian $141,200
- Nuclear Engineers Salary in Syracuse, NYMedian $141,200
Other occupations in CA
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Salary in CAMedian $400,150
- Neurologists Salary in CAMedian $357,080
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in CAMedian $353,900
- Psychiatrists Salary in CAMedian $353,500
- General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary in CAMedian $313,890
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists Salary in CAMedian $301,240
- Nurse Anesthetists Salary in CAMedian $292,410
- Urologists Salary in CAMedian $281,590
- Physicians, All Other Salary in CAMedian $281,590
- Allergists and Immunologists Salary in CAMedian $281,590
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians Salary in CAMedian $281,590
- Sports Medicine Physicians Salary in CAMedian $281,590