Nuclear Engineers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $174,710 or more. The middle half of nuclear engineers in Boston earn between $103,790 and $161,620.
- $68K10th
- $104K25th
- $145KMedian
- $162K75th
- $175K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $133,500 | $11,125 | $64.18 |
| Median | $144,830 | $12,069 | $69.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,790 | $8,649 | $49.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,620 | $13,468 | $77.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Nuclear Engineers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $133,500, a single filer in Boston takes home about $96,158 a year, or $8,013 a month and $3,698 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $102,513 | $8,543 |
| Working in MA | $96,158 | $8,013 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for nuclear engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $133,500 buys what about $123,307 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, ME$118,620
- Syracuse, NY$144,690
- Philadelphia, PA$138,720
- Washington, DC$169,110
- Pittsburgh, PA$133,820
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,140
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Nuclear Engineers salary in Boston: questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour in Boston?
$64.18 an hour on average, and $69.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear engineers take-home pay in Boston?
About $96,158 a year ($8,013 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $133,500. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do nuclear engineers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($140,970).
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.