SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-4051.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $73,150 | $6,096 | $1,407 | $35.17 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $99,110 | $8,259 | $1,906 | $47.65 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $110,240 | $9,187 | $2,120 | $53.00 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $123,990 | $10,332 | $2,384 | $59.61 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $133,600 | $11,133 | $2,569 | $64.23 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Nuclear Technicians is $110,240, which is 116% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 10 by median pay. With 6,470 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Nuclear Technicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in Florida ($135,550), New York ($129,780) and Pennsylvania ($124,070). The lowest was in Tennessee ($91,980), Virginia ($98,930) and California ($99,270). The most jobs were in Illinois (780), South Carolina (750) and Virginia (680). The occupation is most concentrated in South Carolina, where its share of all jobs is 7.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 60 | $135,550 | $121,650 | $65.17 |
| New York | 260 | $129,780 | $136,950 | $62.40 |
| Pennsylvania | 310 | $124,070 | $121,060 | $59.65 |
| Texas | 110 | $124,060 | $116,620 | $59.64 |
| Massachusetts | 50 | $113,390 | $103,050 | $54.51 |
| North Carolina | 420 | $110,430 | $113,240 | $53.09 |
| Illinois | 780 | $110,390 | $105,680 | $53.07 |
| Alabama | 280 | $110,240 | $114,020 | $53.00 |
| South Carolina | 750 | $108,490 | $108,360 | $52.16 |
| Washington | 90 | $108,200 | $108,370 | $52.02 |
| Missouri | 150 | $104,580 | $100,580 | $50.28 |
| California | not published | $99,270 | $94,690 | $47.72 |
| Virginia | 680 | $98,930 | $105,290 | $47.56 |
| Tennessee | 110 | $91,980 | $94,200 | $44.22 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Physical Scientists, All Other$122,570 a year
- Materials Scientists$117,790 a year
- Psychologists, All Other$110,840 a year
- Sociologists$106,030 a year
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 a year
- Geographers$102,040 a year
Common questions
How much do Nuclear Technicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $110,240 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $73,150 and the highest-paid 10% more than $133,600.
How many people work as Nuclear Technicians?
About 6,470 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.