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Junior Nuclear Engineer information

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$33.5K

$71.8K

$109.5K

How much do junior nuclear engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior nuclear engineer in the United States is $71,799.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can you make $500,000 as a nuclear engineer?

Junior nuclear engineers typically earn salaries below $100,000 annually, with higher earnings possible for experienced professionals or those in senior roles. Reaching a $500,000 salary generally requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, management responsibilities, or working in specialized or high-paying sectors within the nuclear industry.

What is the lowest salary for a nuclear engineer?

The lowest salary for a junior nuclear engineer typically starts around $60,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on location, education, and employer. Entry-level positions may also include benefits such as training and certification opportunities, with salaries increasing with experience and additional skills in areas like reactor safety or radiation protection.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or nuclear engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and profit sharing. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced certifications, and work in high-demand industries or leadership positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Nuclear Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Nuclear Engineer, you need a solid background in nuclear engineering principles, mathematics, and physics, typically backed by a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related discipline. Familiarity with industry-standard simulation software, radiation safety protocols, and relevant certifications like Engineer-in-Training (EIT) is valuable. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication set standout candidates apart in this role. These skills and qualifications are essential for ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and successful collaboration in the highly technical and regulated nuclear industry.

What kinds of projects and tasks can a Junior Nuclear Engineer expect to work on during their first year?

As a Junior Nuclear Engineer, you can expect to be involved in a variety of projects such as assisting with reactor design modifications, supporting safety analysis, and participating in routine inspections or maintenance planning. You'll work closely with senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams to learn industry protocols, regulatory requirements, and best practices. Your daily responsibilities may include data collection, drafting technical reports, running simulations, and contributing to troubleshooting sessions. This hands-on exposure provides a strong foundation for career advancement and deeper expertise in the nuclear field.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. Nuclear engineers with significant experience and advanced certifications may also reach this level, particularly in high-demand or government-related sectors.

What does a Junior Nuclear Engineer do?

A Junior Nuclear Engineer assists senior engineers in designing, operating, and maintaining nuclear systems such as reactors, power plants, or medical equipment. Their responsibilities often include conducting research, performing safety analyses, preparing technical reports, and helping ensure compliance with regulations. They may also participate in troubleshooting and resolving technical issues, as well as supporting upgrades and efficiency improvements. Junior Nuclear Engineers typically work under supervision while gaining experience and developing their expertise in the field.

What is the difference between Junior Nuclear Engineer vs Nuclear Technician?

AspectJunior Nuclear EngineerNuclear Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or related field; some roles may require licensing or certificationsAssociate degree or technical certification in nuclear technology or related field
Work EnvironmentDesign, analysis, and development tasks in research facilities, power plants, or laboratoriesOperational tasks, equipment maintenance, and safety procedures in nuclear power plants or labs
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by engineering firms, power plants, and research institutionsCommonly employed in nuclear power plants, maintenance facilities, and testing sites

Junior Nuclear Engineers focus on designing and analyzing nuclear systems, requiring a bachelor's degree and some certifications. Nuclear Technicians handle operational and maintenance tasks, often with technical diplomas. While both work in nuclear environments, their roles differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

More about Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Junior Nuclear Engineer job openings:
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What states have the most Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs are:
Junior Nuclear Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Nuclear Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,799 per year, or $34.5 per hour.
Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) - AL, GA

Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) - AL, GA

U.S. Navy

Birmingham, AL • On-site

$92K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

United States Navy rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 378 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 46 rated military and defense

Job description

The most powerful energy sources in the world need the most powerful minds behind them. As a Nuclear Reactors Engineer, you’ll be responsible for researching, designing, maintaining, operating and regulating the nuclear reactors and power plants that drive the most advanced fleet of submarines and aircraft carriers on Earth. Here, you can fuel a passion for problem-solving by defining and redefining the cutting-edge of nuclear propulsion while setting the standard in nuclear reactor research and regulation. Naval Reactors Engineers have oversight of the Navy's entire fleet of nuclear-powered ships as well as shore-based prototypes and nuclear propulsion support facilities for America’s Navy.

The wide array of technical areas involved in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program include:

  • Reactor and fluid systems design
  • Reactor physics
  • Materials development
  • Component design such as steam generators, pumps and valves
  • Instrumentation and control of reactor, steam and electric plants
  • Testing and quality control
  • Shielding
  • Chemistry and radiological controls

As a Navy Reactors Engineer stationed at Naval Reactors Headquarters in Washington, D.C., you will provide technical oversight while managing projects ranging from reactor design to fleet operations to de-fueling and decommissioning warships.

Preliminary training and eventual staff assignments center around Naval Reactors Headquarters at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. At Headquarters, you will be a part of an elite, streamlined staff of roughly 500 people who oversee the entire Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program from cradle to grave.​

Even junior-level Naval Reactors Engineers assume responsibility for key technical work in a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, including:

  • Two Department of Energy laboratories
  • Two nuclear prototype/training sites
  • Nearly 100 nuclear-powered ships and submarines
  • Six shipyards
  • More than 1,000 firms that support the Naval Reactors Program
  • U.S. citizen between the ages of 19 and 29. Exceptions may be possible up to age 40.
  • Graduate or a current student pursuing a B.A., B.S., or M.S. (preferably major in mathematics, engineering, physics, chemistry, or other technical areas).
  • Those still in school may apply as early as 18 months from completion of an undergraduate degree for Naval Reactors Engineers.
  • Applicants may also join the NUPOC program as early as 12 months from completion of a master's degree.
  • Completed one academic year of calculus (minimum calculus I/II).
  • Completed one academic year of calculus-based physics (minimum physics I/II).
  • A competitive GPA of 3.0 or higher and a minimum grade of "B" in all technical courses.

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Industry

National security, national security and international affairs, public safety statistics centers and offices, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

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