Nuclear Engineers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $190,800 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Chicago earn between $108,690 and $164,750.
- $106K10th
- $109K25th
- $135KMedian
- $165K75th
- $191K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $141,630 | $11,802 | $68.09 |
| Median | $134,510 | $11,209 | $64.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $108,690 | $9,058 | $52.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,750 | $13,729 | $79.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Engineers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Nuclear engineers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($139,280) and about the same as the U.S. average ($140,420). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $133,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $141,630 | $134,510 | $105,920 | $190,800 | 710 |
| Illinois | $139,280 | $134,510 | $102,890 | $171,060 | 1,040 |
| United States | $140,420 | $133,970 | $92,960 | $196,290 | 15,280 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nuclear Engineers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $141,630, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $101,200 a year, or $8,433 a month and $3,892 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $103,851 | $8,654 |
| Working in IL | $101,200 | $8,433 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $141,630 buys what about $136,715 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Monroe, MI$140,660
- Cleveland, OH$138,080
- Pittsburgh, PA$133,820
- Knoxville, TN$185,740
- Chattanooga, TN$164,940
- Huntsville, AL$128,510
Highest-paying cities for nuclear engineers
Knoxville, TN pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($185,740).
- Knoxville, TN$185,740
- Washington, DC$169,110
- Chattanooga, TN$164,940
- Seattle, WA$164,090
- Kennewick, WA$157,770
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Nuclear Engineers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$68.09 an hour on average, and $64.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $101,200 a year ($8,433 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $141,630.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($140,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2161; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.60, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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