15 Best States For Nuclear Engineers

If you have a degree in nuclear engineering and you are looking for a job, check out these best states for nuclear engineers. It is better to move to another state than to be struggling and starving engineer. Those things are reserved for artists.

Before we turn to specifics, let’s first check out some facts about the nuclear engineers taken from Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In 2014, there were around 16,800 employed nuclear engineers nationwide. We do, however, have some bad news. It is estimated that employment of nuclear engineers will drop for about 4% in the period from 2014 to 2024, meaning there will be 700 fewer jobs.  The major factor that will determine the number of jobs available will be the construction of new nuclear power plants that may be limited due to rising construction costs. Job opportunities will be harder to come by, but there will be some openings due to retirements. If you are expert for nuclear medicine, your chances to find a job will be substantially bigger.

In 2016, nuclear engineers earned $102,220 per year (annual median wage) or $49.14 per hour. The lowest paid 10% were earning less than $65,570 while the highest paid 10% earned $152,420 on average. These figures are very tempting, especially when compared to, let’s say, environmental engineers. You can read more about them on our list of 25 Best States for Environmental Engineers.

Majority of nuclear engineers, more than 40%, work in Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution industry.  Around 17% work for Federal Government while Scientific Research and Development Services industry with 16% rounds up the top 3 industries with the largest number of nuclear engineers. Virginia employs the largest number of nuclear engineers, trailed by Washington and Pennsylvania.

Now, let’s talk about the methodology we used to create our list of best states for nuclear engineers. We decided to take three factors into consideration: annual median wage (Bureau of Labor Statistics), projected job growth rates (Projections Central) and costs of living (Missouri Economy). We ranked the separately for each of these factors and then combined all rankings into our IM Score. That’s how we got our list. Let’s check it out now.

15. New Jersey

IM Score: 23
Annual median wage: $100,930
Job growth: 4.0%
Cost of living index: 121.0

Six figures annual wage surely sounds tempting, but New Jersey has the 11th highest cost of living in the United States and housing prices are through the roof. It is also the most densely populated state and has third largest per capita income in the nation. There are currently 350 nuclear engineers working in New Jersey’s three nuclear power plants with a possible opening of 10 more jobs.

14. Michigan

IM Score: 26
Annual median wage: $95,230
Job growth: -1.9%
Cost of living index: 88.2

On paper, Michigan doesn’t seem so great for nuclear engineers. It has among the lowest wages in the nation and there will be fewer jobs in the future. But, hear us out. There is one thing that puts the state in front of the competition. You will spend far less money on housing, groceries, and utilities than in any other state on our list. That has to count for something, right? Michigan has three nuclear power plants, in addition to one decommissioned in 1997.

13. Connecticut

IM Score: 28
Annual median wage: $116,370
Job growth: 1.9%
Cost of living index: 130.7

Here we have a completely opposite situation compared to the previous entry. Connecticut offers good wage and promises job opportunities. There will be 20 more nuclear engineers employed in the future compared to current 840. There are some other positive things like biggest per capita income in the nation and highest human development index. However, it is also the state with the highest cost of living index on our list of best states for nuclear engineers. Connecticut had two nuclear power plants, but one was decommissioned in 2004.

12. North Carolina

IM Score: 29
Annual median wage: $112,990
Job growth: –
Cost of living index: 94.2

Unfortunately, there were no data available for projected job growth in North Carolina. We do know that North Carolina ranks 5th in terms of states with the highest number of employed nuclear engineers. Currently, North Carolina is home for 900 of them. Cost of living is moderate so the wage this high sounds promising. The state has three active nuclear power plants.

11. Kansas

IM Score: 31
Annual median wage: $104,360
Job growth: –
Cost of living index: 90.4

Kansas has one nuclear power plant, so it isn’t strange that there are no projected job growth rates. If you, however, manage to snatch a job here, you’ll enjoy the really pleasant cost of living.

10. Maryland

IM Score: 31
Annual median wage: $107,970
Job growth: 7.8%
Cost of living index: 125.0

Now we shift our attention to a state that is considered to be a place where religious freedom was born. Being one of the smallest states and most densely populated, Maryland also has one of the highest household incomes in the United States. Although it isn’t cheap to live here, the things look pretty good from an employment perspective. It is projected that Maryland’s number of employed nuclear engineers will jump from 590 to 640. There will be 20 average annual openings for this occupation.  The state has one active nuclear power plant.

9. Alabama

IM Score: 34
Annual median wage: $115,840
Job growth: –
Cost of living index: 91.2

Although Alabama has the 4th lowest per capita income and among lowest household incomes in the nation, the wages for nuclear engineers are pretty good. Also, you won’t have to worry about finding a place to live, since Alabama is one of the cheapest states in terms of housing. There are two nuclear power plants in the state. Interesting thing is that there should have been three, but after $4 billion spent, one construction was abandoned.

8. New Mexico

IM Score: 35    
Annual median wage: $131,790
Job growth: -2.8%
Cost of living index: 95.7

If you are chasing money, then New Mexico is your answer. The state offers highest annual median wages for nuclear engineers while having the highest concentration of jobs.  The bad thing is that there will be 10 less nuclear engineers employed in the future. New Mexico has the 5th lowest per capita income in the United States.

7. Louisiana

IM Score: 35
Annual median wage: $107,550
Job growth: 2.8%
Cost of living index: 94.4

Let’s now check how bright is future for those nuclear engineers that live in, or want to move to Louisiana. We could safely say that this state is average in all terms. It doesn’t escalate in either factor, but there will be 10 new employments made which will increase state’s number of employed nuclear engineers to 150. There are currently two active nuclear power plants here.

6. Nebraska

IM Score: 36
Annual median wage: $100,200
Job growth: 5.3%
Cost of living index: 91.3

Just like previous entry on our list of best states for nuclear engineers, Nebraska will have more nuclear engineers employed in the future. The wages will not make you a millionaire, but they are quite nice compared to the cost of living.  State previously had two nuclear power plants, with only one remaining active.

5. Georgia

IM Score: 38
Annual median wage: $126,610
Job growth: -2.3%
Cost of living index: 91.4

After New Mexico, Georgia offers the biggest wages to nuclear engineers in the entire nation. There will be a slight drop in the job growth rates in the future, but nothing serious. Georgia has two nuclear power plants.

4. Idaho

IM Score: 41
Annual median wage: $116,660
Job growth: –
Cost of living index: 89.6

Idaho is a home to Idaho National Laboratory, the largest Department of Energy facility, which has numerous ongoing nuclear energy projects and is the source of jobs for nuclear engineers in the state. This will be a perfect choice if you don’t want to work in power plants. There is also a company for decommissioning of nuclear power plants, so they need your skills as well.

3. Texas

IM Score: 43
Annual median wage: $102,110
Job growth: 12.2%
Cost of living index: 90.7

If you want to be a citizen of the second largest state in the United States, Texas will welcome you with arms wide open. There will be a substantial increase in jobs for nuclear engineers with a number of employed rising from 480 to 540. Also, you won’t have to worry about spending big, since the cost of living is rather affordable. There are two active nuclear power plants in Texas, while two more were proposed but never materialized.

2. Illinois

IM Score: 44
Annual median wage: $116,850
Job growth: 4.5%
Cost of living index: 95.5

Illinois claims the title of state with most nuclear power plants in the nation. There are 5 active nuclear power plants in Illinois and one decommissioned. This means good news for nuclear engineers since there will be plenty of job in the future. It is projected that number of employed nuclear engineers will increase by 50, with 30 job openings annually.

1. Tennessee

IM Score: 55
Annual median wage: $102,640
Job growth: 17.3%
Cost of living index: 89.8

The final entry on our list of best states for nuclear engineers has plenty of jobs for anyone who wants to work. The future looks bright since Projections Central estimates that there will be 300 new employed nuclear engineers in the future with 70 jobs opening on an annual basis. The state also ranks as 7th most affordable in terms of cost of living. Although Tennessee ranks 6th worst in income per capita, you don’t have to worry since the wages are pretty nice. The state currently has 2 active nuclear power plants, with Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station acquiring in 2016 the first new nuclear reactor in the United States after 20 years break.