Salary distribution
Where Illinois nuclear engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $104,520 and $159,420, with a median of $130,160.
Nuclear Engineers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,063. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 3 | $86,403 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $90,063 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $87,547 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Nuclear Engineers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UChicago Argonne LLC | Nuclear Engineer | 5 | $90,063 |
| University of Illinois | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $74,537 |
| Constellation Energy Generation LLC | Reactor Engineer 2B | 2 | $102,492 |
| NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. | Reactor Physics Nuclear Engineer | 1 | $110,000 |
| UChicago Argonne, LLC | Postdoctoral Appointee | 1 | $70,758 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Illinois$64,043UrbanaDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494909
- Reactor Engineer 2B at Constellation Energy Generation LLC$118,581BracevilleWage Level IIDecided Sep 4, 2025I-200-25239-270361
- Reactor Physics Nuclear Engineer at NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.$110,000Oak BrookWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-096199
- Postdoctoral Appointee at UChicago Argonne, LLC$70,758LemontWage Level IDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-085467
- Engineer at Constellation Energy Generation LLC$86,403MarseillesWage Level IDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-867410
- Nuclear Engineer at UChicago Argonne LLC$90,063LemontWage Level IIIDecided Apr 1, 2025I-200-25084-801475
- Research Scientist at University of Illinois$85,030UrbanaWage Level IIIDecided Mar 28, 2025I-200-25080-795208
- Nuclear Engineer at UChicago Argonne LLC$90,063LemontWage Level IIDecided Feb 21, 2025I-200-25044-690552
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Nuclear Engineers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Nuclear Engineers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 11 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $90,063.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | UChicago Argonne LLC | 6 | $90,063 |
| Energy and utilities | Constellation Energy Generation LLC | 3 | $110,000 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 2 | $74,537 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- 02
Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- 03
Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- 04
Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- 05
Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- 06
Recommend preventive measures to be taken in the handling of nuclear technology, based on data obtained from operations monitoring or from evaluation of test results.
- 07
Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
- 08
Conduct environmental studies on topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-0.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for nuclear engineers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$130,160
Compare Nuclear Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Nuclear Engineers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Nuclear Engineers in Illinois is $130,160.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Nuclear Engineers?
- The Illinois median is +6.5% versus the BLS national figure of $122,242.
- What is the salary range for Nuclear Engineers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $101,890 and the 90th-percentile at $165,520, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Nuclear Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -0.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Nuclear Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.