Petroleum Engineer salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Petroleum Engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median of $130,230 a year ($62.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,080 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 28% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $101,880. There are 0.18 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $134,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Pittsburgh, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,970 | $32.68 |
| 25th percentile | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| Median | $130,230 | $62.61 |
| 75th percentile | $162,040 | $77.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,080 | $100.52 |
| Average (mean) | $134,210 | $64.52 |
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 | $10,852.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,426.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,008.85 |
| Weekly | $2,504.42 |
| Hourly | $62.61 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Petroleum Engineer pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,680 | $48.40 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $98,050 | $47.14 |
| Industrial Engineer | $98,190 | $47.21 |
| Electrical Engineer | $104,990 | $50.48 |
| Engineers, All Other | $112,420 | $54.05 |
| Environmental Engineer | $98,010 | $47.12 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,930 | $57.66 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $115,320 | $55.44 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $127,640 | $61.37 |
| Materials Engineer | $92,740 | $44.59 |
| Chemical Engineer | $152,290 | $73.22 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $128,390 | $61.73 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $74,900 | $36.01 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh, PA?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $130,230 a year, or $62.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn at least $209,080 a year. The top 25% earn $162,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Pittsburgh, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,970 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $101,880 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Pittsburgh, PA?
About 210 petroleum engineers are employed in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.