Nuclear Engineering Degree in San Antonio, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Nuclear Engineering degree analysis for San Antonio, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$142K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in San Antonio
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Nuclear Engineering in San Antonio, TX Overview
San Antonio is one of Texas's top college towns, with 58 institutions and a student population of 95,539. Public tuition averages $10,740/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 San Antonio is approximately $60,000, growing to $141,600 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
58
Public Tuition
$10,740/yr
Private Tuition
$40,722/yr
Room & Board
$10,768/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,745/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Nuclear Engineering Salary in San Antonio (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Antonio's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nuclear Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $118,000 mid-career, $148,000 senior level.San Antonio adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Nuclear Engineering ROI Calculator for San Antonio
Estimate your return on investment for a Nuclear Engineering degree using local San Antonio tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,740 | Private avg: $40,722
San Antonio avg aid: $13,745/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,032
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,000
vs HS diploma in San Antonio
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Antonio
$1,113,968
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,200,000) minus total education cost ($86,032)
Student Loan Payoff for Nuclear Engineering in San Antonio
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Antonio for Nuclear Engineering
University of Texas at San Antonio
public
$10,740/yr
$42,960 total
Trinity University
private
$47,908/yr
$191,632 total
St. Mary's University
private
$33,536/yr
$134,144 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Alamo Colleges
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Nuclear Engineering in San Antonio
San Antonio offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Nuclear Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Antonio Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Nuclear Engineering Job Titles
Nuclear Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in San Antonio
Petroleum Engineering
$60K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$96K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$96K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$94K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering Degree in San Antonio — 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 San Antonio.