Petroleum Engineer salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Petroleum Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $134,800 a year ($64.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $129,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,360 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is about the same as the Washington statewide median of $134,800. There are 0.02 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.18). The average (mean) salary is $151,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $129,510 | $62.26 |
| 25th percentile | $134,800 | $64.81 |
| Median | $134,800 | $64.81 |
| 75th percentile | $184,360 | $88.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,360 | $88.64 |
| Average (mean) | $151,000 | $72.60 |
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 | $11,233.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,616.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,184.62 |
| Weekly | $2,592.31 |
| Hourly | $64.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $134,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $116,480 | $56.00 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,580 | $78.64 |
| Electrical Engineer | $140,210 | $67.41 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,210 | $63.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Engineers, All Other | $137,430 | $66.07 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $138,890 | $66.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $128,410 | $61.74 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,130 | $75.06 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $161,050 | $77.43 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $129,820 | $62.42 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $128,610 | $61.83 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $134,800 a year, or $64.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $129,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $184,360 a year. The top 25% earn $184,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $129,510 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $134,800 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 40 petroleum engineers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.