Prevailing Wage for Nuclear Engineers
Prevailing wage requirements for Nuclear Engineers are set by DOL across four experience levels, with the floor varying significantly by city. Whether your offer titles you as an Engineer, Nuclear Design Engineer, or Nuclear Safety Engineer, the sponsored wage must meet or exceed the DOL benchmark for your worksite location and assigned level.
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Entry-level nuclear engineers with limited professional experience, typically in their first role after completing a bachelor's or master's degree. Work is closely supervised, with tasks drawn from established procedures and a narrow technical scope.
Qualified engineers with a few years of independent experience in reactor analysis, licensing, or process work. Level 2 is the most common filing level for nuclear engineers, reflecting mid-career professionals operating within defined project parameters.
Experienced engineers who lead technical assignments, exercise independent judgment on complex nuclear systems, and may mentor junior staff. Typically six or more years in the field with a demonstrated specialization in safety, design, or regulatory compliance.
Fully competent senior engineers at the top of the technical ladder, often setting standards, directing program-level work, or serving as principal technical authorities on reactor design, decommissioning, or nuclear waste disposal projects.
Prevailing Wage for Nuclear Engineers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Nuclear Engineers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 17-2161
Job titles like Nuclear Licensing Engineer or Nuclear Process Engineer should file under SOC 17-2161. If an employer classifies the role under a broader engineering code, the prevailing wage floor may be lower and your sponsored wage could be out of compliance.
Watch the gap between Knoxville and Dallas
Nuclear engineer wages vary sharply by metro. The L4 floor in Knoxville is more than double the L4 floor in Dallas. If your offer is in a lower-wage market, verify the worksite city on the LCA matches where you will actually perform the work.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage calculation
DOL requires the annualized base wage to meet the prevailing wage floor. Signing bonuses, relocation stipends, and equity grants cannot be counted toward compliance. Nuclear engineer offers at national labs and contractors sometimes front-load non-base compensation.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with nuclear sponsorship history
National labs, defense contractors, and commercial reactor operators dominate nuclear engineer sponsorship. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have historically sponsored nuclear engineers, so you can focus your search on proven sponsors rather than cold outreach.
Jobs for Nuclear Engineers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Nuclear EngineersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-2161.00 alongside Nuclear Engineers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nuclear Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nuclear Design Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Nuclear Licensing Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Licensing Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Licensing Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Nuclear Process Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Process Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Process Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nuclear Reactor Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Reactor Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nuclear Reactor Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Nuclear Safety Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Safety Engineer Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Safety Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Nuclear Steam Supply System Engineer (NSSS Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Steam Supply System Engineer (NSSS Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Steam Supply System Engineer (NSSS Engineer) positions fall under SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Radiological Engineer Prevailing Wage
Radiological Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Radiological Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Reactor Engineer Prevailing Wage
Reactor Engineer Prevailing Wage
Reactor Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2161.00 (Nuclear Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for nuclear engineers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For nuclear engineers under SOC 17-2161, DOL maps the survey results to four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC and must offer at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions with close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified professionals working with some independence, and it is the most common filing level for nuclear engineers. Level 3 applies to experienced engineers leading complex technical work. Level 4 covers senior or principal engineers setting program direction. Your level should reflect the actual duties and supervision in the job description, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same nuclear engineer role differ so much between cities?
DOL derives prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the numbers. Dense employer markets like Washington, DC and Kennewick, WA, which are anchored by federal agencies and Department of Energy facilities, produce higher survey wages. The LCA must list the actual worksite, so the wage floor is tied to where the work is performed, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage for a sponsored nuclear engineer position?
An LCA filed at a wage below the prevailing wage will not clear OFLC review, and USCIS will not approve an H-1B or E-3 petition built on a deficient LCA. If an employer discovers the shortfall after approval, they must make the worker whole for any underpayment. Persistent violations can result in debarment from the visa sponsorship program.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for nuclear engineers in a specific U.S. city?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 17-2161 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the SOC code and select the worksite metro to see the floor your employer must meet. You can also check O*NET for occupational context. Migrate Mate lets you filter nuclear engineer job listings by location and see which employers have an established sponsorship track record in that market.
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