Nuclear Engineering Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Nuclear Engineering degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$129K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Nuclear Engineering in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Nuclear Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Reactor Physics and Radiation Protection. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $54,500, growing to $128,620 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Nuclear Engineering Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nuclear Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $118,000 mid-career, $148,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Nuclear Engineering ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Nuclear Engineering degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$994,268
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,090,000) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Nuclear Engineering in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Nuclear Engineering
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Nuclear Engineering in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Nuclear Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Nuclear Engineering Job Titles
Nuclear Engineering in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Chicago
Petroleum Engineering
$55K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering Degree in Chicago — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Nuclear Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chicago.