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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

Nuclear Engineers

Conduct 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.

Also called: Engineer, Nuclear Design Engineer, Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Licensing Engineer, Nuclear Process Engineer, Nuclear Reactor Engineer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$144,830
$69.63/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
220
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−0.8%
10 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$67,750$103,790$144,830$161,620$174,710

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
  • Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
  • Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
  • Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
  • Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
  • Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure80 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 87
  • Language-model AIOE 77
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 76

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is higher, but observed AI use is little or none so far. Tools could help with parts of design work and data review. Safety monitoring, emergency decisions, and directing plant operations rely on human judgment and accountability. Massachusetts employment is projected to dip slightly, by 0.8%, from 2024 to 2034.

Likely to change

  • Drafting and checking equipment designs
  • Reviewing accident and operating data

Still relies on people

  • Ordering shutdowns in emergencies
  • Directing plant crews and safety practices

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

    Your design and safety experience carries over to directing and approving engineering changes, and this role has a Boston median pay of $205,130.

    Pay difference
    +$60,300 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +0.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Construction Managers

    Checking compliance with safety codes carries over to this role, which has 10.9% projected growth, though it includes moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$11,640 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +10.9%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Industrial Production Managers

    Your experience directing operations to meet safety and quality standards fits this role, which has a Boston median pay of $153,210.

    Pay difference
    +$8,380 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.3%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

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