Petroleum Engineer salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Petroleum Engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median of $147,440 a year ($70.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,520 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $143,590. There are 0.48 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $137,320, close to the median.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,730 | $25.83 |
| 25th percentile | $104,310 | $50.15 |
| Median | $147,440 | $70.89 |
| 75th percentile | $167,330 | $80.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,520 | $94.00 |
| Average (mean) | $137,320 | $66.02 |
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 | $12,286.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,143.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,670.77 |
| Weekly | $2,835.38 |
| Hourly | $70.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Petroleum Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $167,000 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $166,570 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $161,050 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $143,590 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for petroleum engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 |
| Utah | $172,840 |
| Colorado | $172,190 |
| Texas | $164,860 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 |
| California | $143,590 |
| Louisiana | $139,640 |
| Washington | $134,800 |
| North Dakota | $132,120 |
| Kansas | $115,640 |
See Petroleum Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $99,300 | $47.74 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $128,720 | $61.88 |
| Engineers, All Other | $139,980 | $67.30 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $119,790 | $57.59 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,960 | $61.04 |
| Industrial Engineer | $104,700 | $50.34 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $126,460 | $60.80 |
| Environmental Engineer | $124,920 | $60.06 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Materials Engineer | $130,440 | $62.71 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $101,770 | $48.93 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $72,970 | $35.08 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
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 Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $147,440 a year, or $70.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn at least $195,520 a year. The top 25% earn $167,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,730 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $104,310 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
About 160 petroleum engineers are employed in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.