Nuclear Engineering Degree
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Table of Contents
Nuclear engineers are experts in their primary field, as well as knowledgeable in other fields such as electronics, thermodynamics, physics, and materials science. The fundamentals of one science are often the same tools used in solving problems in the other disciplines. Medical imaging, nuclear fission reactors, ultra-sensitive contraband detectors, and fusion reactors, must all be understood as well as how they relate to one another.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering prepares students for careers in the application and engineering of low-energy nuclear physics. Bachelors-degree students have heavy course loads in science, chemistry, physics, calculus, biology, technology, the humanities and communication. Their studies also include nuclear engineering basics, the fundamentals of nuclear energy and engineering, nuclear reactor systems, radiation safety, fuel cycles, nuclear materials and electromagnetism.
Master's degree students usually specialize in fission nuclear technology, nuclear science and technology, or applied plasma physics. The Ph.D. degree generally adds two years of study beyond the master's.
Nuclear Engineering Careers
The career trajectory of people with a Nuclear Engineering degree appears to be focused around a few careers. The most common career that users with Nuclear Engineering degrees have experience in is Nuclear Engineer, followed by Power Plant Operator, Explosives Worker, Physicist, Engineer, Scientist, Electrician, Computer Programmer, Musician, and Project Manager.
| Career | % of graduates | % of population | Multiple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineer | 11.1% | 0.0% | 467.6× | ||
| Power Plant Operator | 5.0% | 0.0% | 349.1× | ||
| Explosives Worker | 2.4% | 0.0% | 143.2× | ||
| Physicist | 4.5% | 0.1% | 53.9× | ||
| Engineer | 4.4% | 1.0% | 4.4× | ||
| Scientist | 1.8% | 0.2% | 10.1× | ||
| Electrician | 1.8% | 0.3% | 5.4× | ||
| Computer Programmer | 1.8% | 0.7% | 2.5× | ||
| Musician | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.3× | ||
| Project Manager | 3.5% | 1.2% | 3.0× | ||
Nuclear Engineering Salary
Nuclear Engineering graduates earn on average $65k, putting them in the 95th percentile of earners with a degree.
| Percentile | Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (bottom earners) | $50k | |
| Median (average earners) | $65k | |
| 75th (top earners) | $102k | |
Nuclear Engineering Underemployment
Nuclear Engineering graduates are moderately employed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.
| Employment Type | Proportion of graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs that don't require college | 37% | |
| Low-paying | 13% | |
| Part-Time | 11% | |
