Petroleum Engineer salary in the U.S.
Petroleum Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $144,910 a year ($69.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $253,200 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $157,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,440 | $39.16 |
| 25th percentile | $106,270 | $51.09 |
| Median | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| 75th percentile | $197,920 | $95.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $253,200 | $121.73 |
| Average (mean) | $157,150 | $75.55 |
Half of petroleum engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,075.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,037.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,573.46 |
| Weekly | $2,786.73 |
| Hourly | $69.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Petroleum Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 | 280 |
| Utah | $172,840 | 280 |
| Colorado | $172,190 | 1,390 |
| Texas | $164,860 | 9,140 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | 1,450 |
| California | $143,590 | 1,060 |
| Louisiana | $139,640 | 710 |
| Washington | $134,800 | 190 |
| North Dakota | $132,120 | 130 |
| Kansas | $115,640 | 110 |
| Montana | $104,060 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $101,880 | 600 |
| Nebraska | $100,800 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $99,900 | 260 |
| Ohio | $99,260 | 200 |
| West Virginia | $93,360 | 380 |
Best-paying metro areas for petroleum engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $212,240 | 200 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $180,230 | 110 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | 700 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $174,580 | 900 |
| Midland, TX | $172,070 | 940 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $169,870 | 4,770 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $168,860 | 150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,600 | 910 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $167,600 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $167,000 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $166,570 | 70 |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,480 | 100 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $161,940 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $161,050 | 40 |
| Ogden, UT | $158,300 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most petroleum engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,770 | $169,870 |
| Midland, TX | 940 | $172,070 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 910 | $168,600 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 900 | $174,580 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 700 | $176,200 |
| Tulsa, OK | 370 | $130,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 330 | $167,000 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 320 | $148,390 |
| Greeley, CO | 300 | $132,240 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 240 | $120,460 |
| Odessa, TX | 220 | $135,620 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 210 | $130,230 |
| Anchorage, AK | 200 | $212,240 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 160 | $147,440 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 150 | $168,860 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2171. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the U.S. is $144,910 a year, or $69.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $253,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the U.S. earn at least $253,200 a year. The top 25% earn $197,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,440 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $106,270 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in the U.S.?
About 18,060 petroleum engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.