Petroleum Engineer salary in Charleston, WV
Petroleum Engineers in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $88,860 a year ($42.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,510 for the top 10%. That is 39% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 5% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $93,360. There are 0.78 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $112,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| 25th percentile | $84,300 | $40.53 |
| Median | $88,860 | $42.72 |
| 75th percentile | $108,130 | $51.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $196,510 | $94.48 |
| Average (mean) | $112,480 | $54.08 |
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 | $7,405 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,702.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,417.69 |
| Weekly | $1,708.85 |
| Hourly | $42.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $94,810 | $45.58 |
| Industrial Engineer | $143,860 | $69.16 |
| Engineers, All Other | $119,900 | $57.64 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,250 | $62.14 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $98,050 | $47.14 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $54,180 | $26.05 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $96,510 | $46.40 |
| Surveyor | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $60,920 | $29.29 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $47,660 | $22.91 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Charleston, WV metro area is $88,860 a year, or $42.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $196,510 a year. The top 25% earn $108,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,780 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $84,300 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Charleston, WV?
About 80 petroleum engineers are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.