Petroleum Engineer salary in Pennsylvania
Petroleum Engineers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $101,880 a year ($48.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,130 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pennsylvania ranks 12th of 16 states for petroleum engineers pay. There are 0.10 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $120,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,220 | $37.13 |
| 25th percentile | $96,040 | $46.17 |
| Median | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| 75th percentile | $138,890 | $66.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,130 | $84.20 |
| Average (mean) | $120,180 | $57.78 |
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 | $8,490 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,245 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,918.46 |
| Weekly | $1,959.23 |
| Hourly | $48.98 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $130,230 | 210 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $106,650 | 80 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| Engineers, All Other | $108,950 | $52.38 |
| Environmental Engineer | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $122,560 | $58.92 |
| Chemical Engineer | $116,970 | $56.23 |
| Materials Engineer | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $80,300 | $38.61 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in Pennsylvania is $101,880 a year, or $48.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in Pennsylvania earn at least $175,130 a year. The top 25% earn $138,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,220 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $96,040 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Pennsylvania?
About 600 petroleum engineers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.