Petroleum Engineer salary in El Paso, TX
Petroleum Engineers in the El Paso, TX metro area earn a median of $131,740 a year ($63.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $108,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,310 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 20% lower than the Texas statewide median of $164,860. There are 0.13 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $139,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in El Paso, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $108,740 | $52.28 |
| 25th percentile | $123,020 | $59.14 |
| Median | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| 75th percentile | $163,110 | $78.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,310 | $82.84 |
| Average (mean) | $139,830 | $67.23 |
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 | $10,978.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,489.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,066.92 |
| Weekly | $2,533.46 |
| Hourly | $63.34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,480 | 100 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $155,870 | 110 |
| Odessa, TX | $135,620 | 220 |
| Tyler, TX | $132,530 | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $120,460 | 240 |
| Longview, TX | $101,290 | 130 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Paso, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $79,090 | $38.03 |
| Industrial Engineer | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,180 | $49.60 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $91,430 | $43.96 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $106,560 | $51.23 |
| Engineers, All Other | $108,240 | $52.04 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $109,810 | $52.79 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $102,560 | $49.31 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $112,240 | $53.96 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,680 | $30.14 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $79,850 | $38.39 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in El Paso, TX
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 El Paso, TX?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the El Paso, TX metro area is $131,740 a year, or $63.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $108,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in El Paso, TX?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the El Paso, TX metro area earn at least $172,310 a year. The top 25% earn $163,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in El Paso, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $108,740 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $123,020 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in El Paso, TX?
About 40 petroleum engineers are employed in the El Paso, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.