Nuclear Engineers in North Carolina
Considering working as a Nuclear Engineers in North Carolina? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Nuclear Engineers Make in North Carolina?
For a nuclear engineers working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $128,150 per year (or about $61.61/hour).Pay can range from $85,370 at the 10th percentile to $167,320 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $85,370 | $41.04 |
| 25th percentile | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Median (50th) | $128,150 | $61.61 |
| 75th percentile | $157,600 | $75.77 |
| 90th percentile | $167,320 | $80.44 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina relative to the national average — is 1.11, suggesting that nuclear engineers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, nuclear engineers earn a median of $134,531 per year ($64.68/hour), lower than the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 78,654 nuclear engineers nationwide. In North Carolina alone, approximately 520 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 350 nuclear engineers.
Top North Carolina Metros for Nuclear Engineers
The metro areas below employ the most nuclear engineers in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 260 | $128,150 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 100 | $135,040 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $123,200 |
Top States for Nuclear Engineers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most nuclear engineers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 1,470 |
| Washington | 1,370 |
| Virginia | 1,300 |
| South Carolina | 1,280 |
| New Mexico | 1,160 |
| Illinois | 950 |
| California | 870 |
| Idaho | 720 |
| North Carolina | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | 480 |
| Tennessee | 480 |
| Maine | 350 |
| Alabama | 270 |
| District of Columbia | 240 |
| Minnesota | 190 |
| Michigan | 180 |
| New York | 160 |
| Maryland | 140 |
| Florida | 140 |
| Georgia | 140 |
Highest-Paying States for Nuclear Engineers
These states pay the most for nuclear engineers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $189,800 |
| California | $167,660 |
| New York | $159,290 |
| Maryland | $150,340 |
| Minnesota | $150,260 |
| Nebraska | $149,280 |
| Alabama | $144,410 |
| Massachusetts | $141,520 |
| New Mexico | $140,070 |
| Michigan | $137,890 |
Skills
Key nuclear engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for nuclear engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
- Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.
- Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.
Work Activities
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Working with Computers
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Processing Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: C++, Linux In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Nuclear Engineering
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to nuclear engineers include:
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
Also Known As
Atomic Process Engineer, Core Measures Abstractor, Engineer, Engineering Officer, Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer, Nuclear Design Engineer, Nuclear Electrician, Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Equipment Design Engineer, Nuclear Equipment Research Engineer, Nuclear Equipment Test Engineer, Nuclear Fuels Reclamation Engineer, Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer, Nuclear Licensing Engineer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-2161.00