Nuclear Engineers pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,100 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Charlotte earn between $131,050 and $161,310.
- $96K10th
- $131K25th
- $132KMedian
- $161K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $136,550 | $11,379 | $65.65 |
| Median | $131,850 | $10,988 | $63.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $131,050 | $10,921 | $63.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,310 | $13,442 | $77.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Engineers pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Nuclear engineers in Charlotte earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($136,120) and about the same as the U.S. average ($140,420). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $133,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $136,550 | $131,850 | $95,880 | $164,100 | 240 |
| North Carolina | $136,120 | $131,850 | $96,300 | $166,200 | 460 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $136,550, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $99,658 a year, or $8,305 a month and $3,833 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $99,658 | $8,305 |
| Working in SC | $98,450 | $8,204 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $136,550 buys what about $140,270 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 2nd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($139,660).
- Raleigh$139,660
- Charlotte$136,550
- Wilmington$129,880
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Charlotte?
$65.65 an hour on average, and $63.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $131,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $99,658 a year ($8,305 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $136,550.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Charlotte 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.83, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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