Petroleum engineer salary
BLS occupation: Petroleum Engineers · Architecture and engineering · data for May 2025
How much does a petroleum engineer make?
- The median petroleum engineer salary in the US is $144,910 a year ($69.67 an hour): half of the 18,060 petroleum engineers BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $157,150.
- The middle half earn between $106,270 and $197,920. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $81,440 and the top 10% more than $253,200.
- That is 2.8 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Alaska pays petroleum engineers the most (median $206,290), followed by Utah ($172,840) and Colorado ($172,190). West Virginia pays the least ($93,360).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Alaska, where the median is worth $201,536 in typical US prices, then Utah and Oklahoma.
- In all 36 metro areas with data, the median petroleum engineer salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of petroleum engineers to grow 2.0% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 1,000 openings a year. The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what petroleum engineers are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Petroleum engineer salary range
Half of petroleum engineers earn between $106,270 and $197,920 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $81,440 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $106,270 |
| Median | $144,910 |
| Top 25% earn over | $197,920 |
| Top 10% earn over | $253,200 |
Where petroleum engineer pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Petroleum engineers' pay goes furthest in Alaska once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $201,536 |
| Utah | $174,826 |
| Oklahoma | $174,197 |
| Texas | $169,859 |
| Colorado | $167,090 |
| Louisiana | $158,309 |
| North Dakota | $148,518 |
| California | $129,688 |
| Kansas | $128,392 |
| Washington | $125,966 |
Petroleum engineer pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 | $99.18 | $129,150 | $277,360 | 280 | $201,536 |
| Utah | $172,840 | $83.10 | $101,490 | $212,590 | 280 | $174,826 |
| Colorado | $172,190 | $82.78 | $92,590 | $264,960 | 1,390 | $167,090 |
| Texas | $164,860 | $79.26 | $89,990 | $283,500 | 9,140 | $169,859 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | $73.57 | $86,990 | $221,320 | 1,450 | $174,197 |
| California | $143,590 | $69.03 | $61,780 | $207,370 | 1,060 | $129,688 |
| Louisiana | $139,640 | $67.13 | $43,440 | $221,800 | 710 | $158,309 |
| Washington | $134,800 | $64.81 | $107,690 | $184,360 | 190 | $125,966 |
| North Dakota | $132,120 | $63.52 | $82,530 | $170,040 | 130 | $148,518 |
| Kansas | $115,640 | $55.60 | $65,510 | $195,300 | 110 | $128,392 |
| Montana | $104,060 | $50.03 | $77,450 | $155,590 | – | $109,948 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,880 | $48.98 | $77,220 | $175,130 | 600 | $104,415 |
| Nebraska | $100,800 | $48.46 | $80,880 | $165,490 | 150 | $111,872 |
| New Mexico | $99,900 | $48.03 | $76,140 | $151,750 | 260 | $108,337 |
| Ohio | $99,260 | $47.72 | $79,010 | $139,440 | 200 | $106,991 |
| West Virginia | $93,360 | $44.88 | $79,860 | $220,130 | 380 | $104,316 |
BLS does not publish pay for petroleum engineers in 35 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Petroleum engineer salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes petroleum engineer pay: 36 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Anchorage, AK $212,240
- Salt Lake City, UT $180,230
- Oklahoma City, OK $176,200
- Denver, CO $174,580
- Midland, TX $172,070
- Houston, TX $169,870
- Austin, TX $168,860
- Dallas, TX $168,600
- Beaumont, TX $167,600
- Los Angeles, CA $167,000
Where the pay goes furthest
- Anchorage, AK $201,328
- Oklahoma City, OK $194,894
- Beaumont, TX $186,127
- Lubbock, TX $180,120
- Midland, TX $179,646
- Salt Lake City, UT $178,679
- Houston, TX $172,231
- Austin, TX $172,190
- Grand Junction, CO $169,613
- Corpus Christi, TX $168,197
All 36 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $212,240 | 200 | $201,328 | 11% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $180,230 | 110 | $178,679 | 11% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | 700 | $194,894 | 9% |
| Denver, CO | $174,580 | 900 | $165,038 | 13% |
| Midland, TX | $172,070 | 940 | $179,646 | 11% |
| Houston, TX | $169,870 | 4,770 | $172,231 | 12% |
| Austin, TX | $168,860 | 150 | $172,190 | 11% |
| Dallas, TX | $168,600 | 910 | $163,546 | 12% |
| Beaumont, TX | $167,600 | 90 | $186,127 | 9% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $167,000 | 330 | $147,051 | 21% |
| Sacramento, CA | $166,570 | 70 | $156,154 | 16% |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,480 | 100 | $180,120 | 10% |
| Grand Junction, CO | $161,940 | 50 | $169,613 | 13% |
| Oxnard, CA | $161,050 | 40 | $145,702 | 22% |
| Ogden, UT | $158,300 | 40 | $157,749 | 12% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $155,870 | 110 | $168,197 | 11% |
| New Orleans, LA | $148,390 | 320 | $160,254 | 13% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $147,440 | 160 | $146,145 | 15% |
| San Francisco, CA | $143,590 | – | $124,199 | 29% |
| Detroit, MI | $135,630 | – | $135,227 | 13% |
| Odessa, TX | $135,620 | 220 | $144,436 | 14% |
| Seattle, WA | $134,800 | 40 | $121,296 | 20% |
| Tyler, TX | $132,530 | 60 | $143,810 | 12% |
| Greeley, CO | $132,240 | 300 | $132,008 | 15% |
| El Paso, TX | $131,740 | 40 | $146,521 | 14% |
| Tulsa, OK | $130,750 | 370 | $146,558 | 13% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $130,230 | 210 | $137,561 | 14% |
| Casper, WY | $125,640 | 80 | $133,903 | 14% |
| San Antonio, TX | $120,460 | 240 | $127,180 | 14% |
| Wichita, KS | $111,590 | 40 | $125,458 | 13% |
| Farmington, NM | $111,570 | 30 | $127,208 | 15% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $106,650 | 80 | $103,994 | 21% |
| Longview, TX | $101,290 | 130 | $113,192 | 14% |
| Columbus, OH | $99,260 | 60 | $103,971 | 18% |
| Lincoln, NE | $98,010 | – | $107,020 | 16% |
| Charleston, WV | $88,860 | 80 | $100,161 | 16% |
What the median petroleum engineer salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $144,910 |
| Month | $12,076 |
| Every two weeks | $5,573 |
| Week | $2,787 |
| Hour | $69.67 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a petroleum engineer: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +2.0% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 1,000 |
| Self-employed | 1.7% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Civil engineer | $100,840 | Bachelor's degree |
| Electrical engineer | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree |
| Chemical engineer | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer hardware engineer | $161,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| Aerospace engineer | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| Architect | $99,280 | Bachelor's degree |
| Mechanical engineer | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| Surveyor | $75,440 | Bachelor's degree |
Questions about petroleum engineer pay
How much does a petroleum engineer make an hour?
The median is $69.67 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39.16 and the top 10% over $121.73.
How much does a petroleum engineer make a month?
About $12,076 a month before taxes at the median salary of $144,910, or $5,573 every two weeks.
What state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska, with a median of $206,290. Utah ($172,840), Colorado ($172,190), Texas ($164,860) and Oklahoma ($153,020) follow.
Where do petroleum engineers make the most after cost of living?
Alaska: its median of $206,290 is worth $201,536 at typical US prices. Utah, Oklahoma and Texas come next.
How much do entry-level petroleum engineers make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of petroleum engineers earn under $81,440 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $106,270, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a petroleum engineer?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a bachelor's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 17-2171 (Petroleum Engineers). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.