Nuclear Engineering Degree in New York, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Nuclear Engineering degree analysis for New York, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$94K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$221K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in New York
Cost of Living
187.2
index (100 = avg)
Nuclear Engineering in New York, NY Overview
New York is one of New York's top college towns, with 279 institutions and a student population of 418,559. Public tuition averages $10,200/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Nuclear Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Reactor Physics and Radiation Protection. The adjusted starting salary in New York is approximately $93,600, growing to $220,896 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
279
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,701/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,243/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
59%
Nuclear Engineering Salary in New York (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York's cost of living index of 187.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nuclear Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $118,000 mid-career, $148,000 senior level.New York adjustment factor: 1.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Nuclear Engineering ROI Calculator for New York
Estimate your return on investment for a Nuclear Engineering degree using local New York tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $42,000
New York avg aid: $8,243/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,080
vs HS diploma in New York
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York
$1,756,396
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,872,000) minus total education cost ($115,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Nuclear Engineering in New York
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York for Nuclear Engineering
New York State University
public
$9,794/yr
$39,176 total
University of New York
public
$10,109/yr
$40,436 total
New York Institute of Technology
private
$38,089/yr
$152,356 total
New York University - New York
public
$10,609/yr
$42,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New York Community College
$7,506/yr
New York Technical College - New York
$8,204/yr
Top Employers for Nuclear Engineering in New York
New York offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Nuclear Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Nuclear Engineering Job Titles
Nuclear Engineering in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$70K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in New York
Petroleum Engineering
$94K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$94K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$154K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$150K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$150K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$146K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$94K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$94K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering Degree in New York — 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 New York.