Side-by-side distribution
Aerospace Engineer
$132,747
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 66.8%
- Live roles
- 199
Nuclear Engineer
$133,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 56.9%
- Live roles
- 130
Highest-paying jobs
Principal Airframe Engineer - IPT Lead [AERO]
Senior Aerospace Software Engineer
Staff Engineer Aeronautical (level 5)
Staff Aeronautical Engineer- Test & Evaluation
Staff Aeronautical Engineer (VMS & GNC)
Staff Engineer Aeronautical
Astrodynamics Aerospace Engineer, Lead
Astrodynamics Aerospace Engineer, Lead
Structures Engineer, Aerospace & Defense (All Levels)
Sentinel CFD Staff Aeronautical Engineer - 20341
Highest-paying jobs
Principal Nuclear Materials Engineer
Staff Nuclear Hardness and Survivability Engineer
Principal Nuclear Engineer
Sentinel - Sr Staff Nuclear Hardness Survivability Engineer - 19988
Senior/Staff Nuclear Safety Analysis Engineer
Engineer IV - VI, Nuclear Safety Analysis
Staff Nuclear Hardness & Survivability Systems Engineer
Staff Systems Engineer - Nuclear Hardness & Survivability -18271
Sentinel - Nuclear Surety - Staff Systems Engineer - 20390
Nuclear Licensing Engineer
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Northrop Grumman
|
$142,500 | 41 |
|
Blue Origin
|
$125,894 | 12 |
Xometry
|
$72,375 | 9 |
| BO Boeing | $149,000 | 6 |
| GV GE Vernova | $90,000 | 6 |
|
Booz Allen Hamilton
|
$142,450 | 5 |
Leidos
|
$122,275 | 5 |
TSC
|
$121,000 | 5 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Northrop Grumman
|
$123,000 | 14 |
|
Radiant Industries
|
$168,188 | 11 |
General Matter
|
$125,000 | 6 |
The Aerospace Corporation
|
$167,850 | 4 |
|
Antares
|
$167,500 | 4 |
| GV GE Vernova | $164,150 | 4 |
|
Amentum
|
$137,500 | 4 |
|
X-energy
|
$133,500 | 3 |
Aerospace Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $135,000 | 9 |
| Seattle | $133,874 | 12 |
| Denver | $109,121 | 11 |
Nuclear Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $147,500 | 9 |
Aerospace Engineer vs Nuclear Engineer: which pays more?
The median for Aerospace Engineer is $132,747 per year (typically $114,700–$151,313), versus $133,500 for Nuclear Engineer ($120,000–$175,500). That puts Nuclear Engineer about 1% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Aerospace Engineer and Nuclear Engineer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.