Petroleum Engineer salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Petroleum Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $174,580 a year ($83.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 900 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $283,790 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 1% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $172,190. There are 0.56 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $179,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,090 | $45.71 |
| 25th percentile | $119,890 | $57.64 |
| Median | $174,580 | $83.93 |
| 75th percentile | $214,500 | $103.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $283,790 | $136.44 |
| Average (mean) | $179,920 | $86.50 |
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 | $14,548.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,274.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,714.62 |
| Weekly | $3,357.31 |
| Hourly | $83.93 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | $161,940 | 50 |
| Greeley, CO | $132,240 | 300 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $104,710 | $50.34 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $128,180 | $61.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,260 | $61.18 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,020 | $57.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $108,680 | $52.25 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $156,190 | $75.09 |
| Engineers, All Other | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $144,660 | $69.55 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,880 | $51.86 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $93,100 | $44.76 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,750 | $60.46 |
| Chemical Engineer | $128,110 | $61.59 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $118,560 | $57.00 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $101,060 | $48.59 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $174,580 a year, or $83.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $283,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $283,790 a year. The top 25% earn $214,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,090 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $119,890 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 900 petroleum engineers are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.