Petroleum Engineer salary in California
Petroleum Engineers in California earn a median of $143,590 a year ($69.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,370 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $144,910. California ranks 6th of 16 states for petroleum engineers pay. There are 0.06 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $147,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| 25th percentile | $126,500 | $60.82 |
| Median | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| 75th percentile | $171,980 | $82.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,370 | $99.70 |
| Average (mean) | $147,940 | $71.13 |
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 | $11,965.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,982.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,522.69 |
| Weekly | $2,761.35 |
| Hourly | $69.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Petroleum Engineer salary in cities in California
| 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 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $147,440 | 160 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in California is $143,590 a year, or $69.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in California?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in California earn at least $207,370 a year. The top 25% earn $171,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,780 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $126,500 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in California?
About 1,060 petroleum engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.