Jobs
The highest paychecks go to Principal Mechanical Engineers, who earn an average $124K per year, closely trailed by Senior Electrical Engineers (around $121K), Software Engineers ($105K), and Nuclear Engineers ($101K). Near the bottom at Argonne National Laboratory are Postdoctoral Research Associates, pulling in an average of just approximately $70K.
Years of Experience
Between the one and five year mark, median pay is about $71K annually. Those who have five to nine years of work experience see average salaries of $70K per year. The largest slice of the Argonne National Laboratory workforce (31 percent) has been working for 20 years or more and earns, on average, around $117K annually.
Locations
Residents of Naperville, Ill. pick up paychecks that are higher than any other city — the median salary is $119K per year; other top-paying cities include the company's headquarter city of Chicago, Ill. (about $103K) and Lemont, Ill. (approximately $78K).
Certifications and Degrees
Being a Project Management Professional certainly has its perks — salaries approach $143K annually and far exceed the paychecks of those without certification. On average, salaries rise to around $96K per year for accredited Human Resources Professionals. Employees who have a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) make the most here, hauling in $128K annually.
Skills
When it comes to skills, Project Management seems to bolster pay the most; employees who claim proficiency also enjoy a median income of $117K per year. One of the more prevalent skills at Argonne National Laboratory is Engineering Design, with about a sixth considering it a key competency. Technical Analysis, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Excel were also reported by many survey participants.
Benefits and Perks
With an eye toward the future, Argonne National Laboratory offers several choices in retirement planning such as a 403(b) plan and a 401(k) plan. The company allows nearly one-half to take paid time off for illness, but only one-half of workers get paid vacation days. For most workers, benefits include health insurance, and most employees get dental coverage, too. Some other advantages of working at Argonne National Laboratory are a casual working environment, 401(a), and life insurance.
