Petroleum Engineer salary in Texas
Petroleum Engineers in Texas earn a median of $164,860 a year ($79.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $283,500 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $144,910. Texas ranks 4th of 16 states for petroleum engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.65 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $171,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| 25th percentile | $123,450 | $59.35 |
| Median | $164,860 | $79.26 |
| 75th percentile | $220,330 | $105.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $283,500 | $136.30 |
| Average (mean) | $171,580 | $82.49 |
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 | $13,738.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,869.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,340.77 |
| Weekly | $3,170.38 |
| Hourly | $79.26 |
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 Texas
| 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 |
| El Paso, TX | $131,740 | 40 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $96,860 | $46.57 |
| Industrial Engineer | $104,560 | $50.27 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $112,410 | $54.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,450 | $62.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $115,810 | $55.68 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $132,220 | $63.57 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $123,440 | $59.34 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,750 | $63.82 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $92,600 | $44.52 |
| Environmental Engineer | $123,060 | $59.17 |
| Materials Engineer | $117,700 | $56.59 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $152,780 | $73.45 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in Texas is $164,860 a year, or $79.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $283,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Texas?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in Texas earn at least $283,500 a year. The top 25% earn $220,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,990 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $123,450 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Texas?
About 9,140 petroleum engineers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.