Nuclear Engineers: H-1B wage levels by area (2026-27)
For Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161), the salary that reaches H-1B wage Level II ranges from $99,923 in Virginia Beach, VA to $147,805 in Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area among the 24 areas with the most jobs in the occupation (Department of Labor wage file for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, read on 7 November 2026). Level II gives 2 lottery entries, Level IV gives 4.
US mean wage (OEWS May 2025): $140,420
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor (OFLC), wage data file 2026-27 (OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip, updated 1 July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Read on 7 November 2026. U.S. government data, public domain.
Not legal or immigration advice. This page reports the Department of Labor wage file and the DHS rule as we read them. The level on a registration also depends on the job duties, the SOC code and the place of work chosen for the job, and the employer attests to it. Check with USCIS and the Department of Labor, and ask an immigration lawyer about your own case.
Wage levels in the 24 areas with the most jobs
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 1,260 | $84,864 | $99,923 | $114,982 | $130,042 | 1 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 840 | $125,819 | $147,368 | $168,896 | $190,445 | 1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 710 | $105,602 | $123,531 | $141,440 | $159,370 | 1 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 370 | $92,290 | $105,394 | $118,498 | $131,602 | 1 |
| Richmond, VA | 350 | $111,862 | $129,293 | $146,744 | $164,174 | 1 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 330 | $127,795 | $145,850 | $163,925 | $181,979 | 1 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 240 | $106,496 | $121,451 | $136,406 | $151,362 | 1 |
| Knoxville, TN | 240 | $106,267 | $145,808 | $185,349 | $224,890 | 1 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | $113,110 | $135,325 | $157,539 | $179,754 | 1 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | $104,208 | $121,389 | $138,549 | $155,730 | 1 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 220 | $84,573 | $108,909 | $133,266 | $157,602 | 1 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 220 | $126,090 | $147,805 | $169,520 | $191,235 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 170 | $88,421 | $111,010 | $133,598 | $156,187 | 1 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 150 | $89,149 | $105,227 | $121,326 | $137,405 | 1 |
| Columbia, SC | 120 | $111,280 | $124,051 | $136,802 | $149,573 | 1 |
| Syracuse, NY | 110 | $125,798 | $135,200 | $144,602 | $154,003 | 1 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 100 | $115,398 | $140,046 | $164,694 | $189,342 | 1 |
| Monroe, MI | 90 | $111,238 | $125,882 | $140,504 | $155,147 | 1 |
| Huntsville, AL | 80 | $100,797 | $114,587 | $128,378 | $142,168 | 1 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $95,139 | $112,424 | $129,709 | $146,994 | 1 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 70 | $112,507 | $126,006 | $139,526 | $153,026 | 1 |
| Cleveland, OH | 60 | $105,373 | $121,638 | $137,925 | $154,190 | 1 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 50 | $95,014 | $115,378 | $135,762 | $156,125 | 1 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 30 | $101,733 | $118,976 | $136,198 | $153,442 | 1 |
Yearly salary from which each level starts. Jobs: people employed in the occupation in the area (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Geo level 1 = wage computed from the area itself; 2 = area plus contiguous areas; 3 = statewide; 4 = national (OFLC). Tap a column heading to sort.
The US mean wage for nuclear engineers is $140,420 (median $133,970). In 4 of these 24 areas Level II starts above the US mean.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor (OFLC), wage data file 2026-27 (OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip, updated 1 July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Read on 7 November 2026. U.S. government data, public domain.
Lottery entries
Level I = 1 entry, Level II = 2, Level III = 3, Level IV = 4 (90 FR 60864). DHS estimated a 15.29% chance at Level I and 61.16% at Level IV for its assumed pool: how the odds work.
Questions people ask
What are the H-1B wage level salary ranges for nuclear engineers?
They depend on the area. Among the 24 areas with the most jobs, Level I starts between $84,573 and $127,795 a year, and Level IV between $130,042 and $224,890.
What is the H-1B Level II salary for nuclear engineers?
From $99,923 in Virginia Beach, VA to $147,805 in Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area among the main areas; in 4 of the 24 areas it is above the US mean wage of the occupation ($140,420).
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