Nuclear Engineers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,580 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Wilmington earn between $99,660 and $158,830.
- $96K10th
- $100K25th
- $130KMedian
- $159K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,880 | $10,823 | $62.44 |
| Median | $129,710 | $10,809 | $62.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $99,660 | $8,305 | $47.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $158,830 | $13,236 | $76.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Engineers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Nuclear engineers in Wilmington earn 5% less than the North Carolina average ($136,120) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($140,420). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $133,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $129,880 | $129,710 | $96,300 | $160,580 | 80 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $129,880, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $95,365 a year, or $7,947 a month and $3,668 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $129,880 buys what about $134,700 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 3rd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($139,660).
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Wilmington?
$62.44 an hour on average, and $62.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $95,365 a year ($7,947 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,880.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 4.15, this job is 4.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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