Nuclear Engineers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $143,210 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Portland earn between $107,060 and $135,260.
- $78K10th
- $107K25th
- $120KMedian
- $135K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,620 | $9,885 | $57.03 |
| Median | $120,430 | $10,036 | $57.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $107,060 | $8,922 | $51.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,260 | $11,272 | $65.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Engineers pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Nuclear engineers in Portland earn 4% less than the Maine average ($123,290) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($140,420). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $133,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $118,620 | $120,430 | $78,440 | $143,210 | 370 |
| Maine | $123,290 | $123,780 | $78,440 | $147,200 | 420 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $118,620, a single filer in Portland takes home about $85,819 a year, or $7,152 a month and $3,301 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $118,620 buys what about $116,456 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Boston, MA$133,500
- Syracuse, NY$144,690
- Philadelphia, PA$138,720
- Washington, DC$169,110
- Pittsburgh, PA$133,820
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,140
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 Portland: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Portland?
$57.03 an hour on average, and $57.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $107,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Portland?
About $85,819 a year ($7,152 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,620. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 13.03, this job is 13.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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