Nuclear Engineers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $128,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $239,310 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Seattle earn between $128,790 and $166,330.
- $129K10th
- $129K25th
- $161KMedian
- $166K75th
- $239K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,090 | $13,674 | $78.89 |
| Median | $161,050 | $13,421 | $77.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,790 | $10,732 | $61.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,330 | $13,861 | $79.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Engineers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Nuclear engineers in Seattle earn 20% more than the Washington average ($136,540) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($140,420). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $133,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $164,090 | $161,050 | $128,790 | $239,310 | 330 |
| Washington | $136,540 | $129,480 | $83,100 | $200,930 | 1,380 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $164,090, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $123,422 a year, or $10,285 a month and $4,747 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $164,090 buys what about $147,652 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 2 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$164,090
- Kennewick$157,770
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 Seattle: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Seattle?
$78.89 an hour on average, and $77.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $128,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $123,422 a year ($10,285 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,090. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.1%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.59, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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