U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsConduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19,930 | 12.2 % | $51.51 | $107,140 | 1.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $33.15 | $41.01 | $50.13 | $59.02 | $72.09 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $68,940 | $85,290 | $104,270 | $122,760 | $149,940 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 6,600 | 1.66 | $47.79 | $99,400 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 2,670 | 0.13 | $44.29 | $92,120 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 2,130 | 0.34 | $56.02 | $116,520 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,840 | 0.14 | $54.93 | $114,260 |
| Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 450 | 0.17 | $44.71 | $93,000 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 6,600 | 1.66 | $47.79 | $99,400 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 350 | 0.36 | $50.90 | $105,870 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 2,130 | 0.34 | $56.02 | $116,520 |
| Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 450 | 0.17 | $44.71 | $93,000 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,840 | 0.14 | $54.93 | $114,260 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | (8) | (8) | $58.09 | $120,830 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 2,130 | 0.34 | $56.02 | $116,520 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,840 | 0.14 | $54.93 | $114,260 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 160 | 0.01 | $53.73 | $111,770 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 40 | 0.03 | $51.48 | $107,080 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 2,240 | 0.62 | 4.08 | $43.22 | $89,890 |
| Tennessee | 1,730 | 0.65 | 4.25 | $59.61 | $123,990 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,210 | 0.22 | 1.41 | $47.25 | $98,280 |
| Washington | 1,070 | 0.39 | 2.52 | $44.43 | $92,410 |
| Ohio | 970 | 0.19 | 1.25 | $46.57 | $96,860 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 1,730 | 0.65 | 4.25 | $59.61 | $123,990 |
| Virginia | 2,240 | 0.62 | 4.08 | $43.22 | $89,890 |
| South Carolina | 890 | 0.49 | 3.23 | $43.56 | $90,590 |
| New Mexico | 370 | 0.48 | 3.12 | $52.19 | $108,560 |
| Idaho | 250 | 0.42 | 2.74 | $55.57 | $115,580 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 100 | 0.15 | 0.98 | $73.10 | $152,040 |
| Maryland | 350 | 0.14 | 0.90 | $67.86 | $141,160 |
| Tennessee | 1,730 | 0.65 | 4.25 | $59.61 | $123,990 |
| California | (8) | (8) | (8) | $57.23 | $119,050 |
| New York | 590 | 0.07 | 0.45 | $56.92 | $118,390 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 720 | 1.21 | 7.89 | $49.36 | $102,660 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 680 | 1.16 | 7.57 | $55.49 | $115,420 |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 590 | 0.60 | 3.89 | $43.63 | $90,740 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 520 | 0.14 | 0.94 | $54.65 | $113,670 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 470 | 2.32 | 15.19 | $43.61 | $90,700 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 450 | 0.35 | 2.31 | $51.74 | $107,620 |
| Knoxville, TN | 390 | 1.20 | 7.82 | $55.83 | $116,130 |
| Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA | 390 | 4.02 | 26.28 | $50.01 | $104,020 |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC | 350 | 0.41 | 2.67 | $41.30 | $85,910 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 340 | 0.07 | 0.43 | (8) | (8) |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA | 390 | 4.02 | 26.28 | $50.01 | $104,020 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 470 | 2.32 | 15.19 | $43.61 | $90,700 |
| Richmond, VA | 720 | 1.21 | 7.89 | $49.36 | $102,660 |
| Knoxville, TN | 390 | 1.20 | 7.82 | $55.83 | $116,130 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 680 | 1.16 | 7.57 | $55.49 | $115,420 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 220 | 0.96 | 6.28 | $56.45 | $117,410 |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 590 | 0.60 | 3.89 | $43.63 | $90,740 |
| Toledo, OH | 160 | 0.54 | 3.52 | $43.44 | $90,360 |
| Columbia, SC | 160 | 0.46 | 3.02 | $42.82 | $89,060 |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC | 350 | 0.41 | 2.67 | $41.30 | $85,910 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 210 | 0.09 | 0.58 | $68.30 | $142,070 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $65.42 | $136,070 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | (8) | (8) | (8) | $65.23 | $135,690 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 200 | 0.14 | 0.91 | $63.67 | $132,440 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 90 | 0.24 | 1.55 | $61.40 | $127,720 |
| Baltimore-Towson, MD | 150 | 0.12 | 0.76 | $57.17 | $118,910 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 220 | 0.96 | 6.28 | $56.45 | $117,410 |
| Trenton-Ewing, NJ | (8) | (8) | (8) | $56.25 | $116,990 |
| Knoxville, TN | 390 | 1.20 | 7.82 | $55.83 | $116,130 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 680 | 1.16 | 7.57 | $55.49 | $115,420 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 11.76 | 76.90 | $45.68 | $95,000 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 11.76 | 76.90 | $45.68 | $95,000 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $50.90 | $105,870 |
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 11.76 | 76.90 | $45.68 | $95,000 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
