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Nuclear Technicians Salary
Nuclear Technicians earn a median $110,240 a year in the U.S., with 6,470 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $110,240 a year
- Employment
- 6,470
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +1.1%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 900
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $110,240 · $53.00 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $108,940 · $52.37 an hour (estimate error ±1.1%)
- 10th percentile
- $73,150 · $35.17 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $99,110 · $47.65 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $123,990 · $59.61 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $133,600 · $64.23 an hour
- Employment
- 6,470 (estimate error ±7.7%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 6,700
- Projected for 2035
- 6,800
- Change
- +100 (+1.1%)
- Openings each year
- 900
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 2.7%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $135,550 | 60 |
| 2 | New York | $129,780 | 260 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $124,070 | 310 |
| 4 | Texas | $124,060 | 110 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $113,390 | 50 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $110,430 | 420 |
| 7 | Illinois | $110,390 | 780 |
| 8 | Alabama | $110,240 | 280 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $108,490 | 750 |
| 10 | Washington | $108,200 | 90 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 780 | $110,390 |
| South Carolina | 750 | $108,490 |
| Virginia | 680 | $98,930 |
| North Carolina | 420 | $110,430 |
| Pennsylvania | 310 | $124,070 |
| Alabama | 280 | $110,240 |
| New York | 260 | $129,780 |
| Missouri | 150 | $104,580 |
| Tennessee | 110 | $91,980 |
| Texas | 110 | $124,060 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $171,470 | 100 |
| 2 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $108,210 | 260 |
| 3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $99,990 | 470 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 470 | $99,990 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 260 | $108,210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 100 | $171,470 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 90 | $114,910 |
| Birmingham, AL | 60 | $126,930 |
| Knoxville, TN | 60 | $78,850 |
| Richmond, VA | 60 | $122,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 50 | $113,390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 30 | $96,730 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Nuclear Technicians pay by state
Related occupations
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Frequently asked questions
- How much do nuclear technicians make?
- The median wage for nuclear technicians in the U.S. is $110,240 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,110 and $123,990.
- Which state pays nuclear technicians the most?
- Florida has the highest median wage for this occupation at $135,550 a year.
- What is the job outlook for nuclear technicians?
- BLS projects employment to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 900 openings each year on average.
- What education do nuclear technicians need?
- The typical entry-level education is: associate's degree.