Bottom quarter
$139K
Nuclear Engineer Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$167K
Top quarter
$197K
Top 10%
$228K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Nuclear Engineer in Chicago pulls a median of $166,950 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $197,400 and the top 10% at $227,850. Pay in Chicago runs about 5% above the national baseline. The number to anchor on for a counter is $197,400. The data supports it.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$197,400 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$182,175 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$166,950 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
Get on the AMMO list →Keep digging.
Nuclear Engineer elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.