Nuclear Engineers

Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

$127,520

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

-1% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Nuclear engineers design, develop, and monitor the systems and processes that harness nuclear energy for power generation, medical applications, and national defense. They work on nuclear power plants, ensuring reactors operate safely and efficiently, or develop new technologies for producing energy from nuclear reactions. In their daily work, they analyze data from reactor operations, run computer simulations to test system modifications, and troubleshoot technical problems. They also work on projects involving nuclear materials used in medical imaging equipment, cancer treatment devices, and naval propulsion systems.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Nuclear Engineering(doctoral)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Missouri University of Science and Technology, MO

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Wilberforce University, OH

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Idaho State University, ID

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of Florida, FL

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of New Mexico-Main Campus, NM

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)South Carolina State University, SC

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, TN

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)United States Military Academy, NY

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)United States Naval Academy, MD

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University at Buffalo, NY

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, OH

Nuclear Engineering(certificate)University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, PA

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Oregon State University, OR

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, OR

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Texas A&M University-College Station, TX

Nuclear Engineering(bachelors)Purdue University-Main Campus, IN

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