How much does a Petroleum Engineer make?
A Petroleum Engineer earns a median annual salary of $144,910 in the United States, which works out to roughly $69.67 per hour for full-time work. Most Petroleum Engineers earn between $81,440 at the entry level and $253,200 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $106,270 and $197,920 a year.
That is $83,520 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Petroleum Engineer salary range by percentile
Half of all Petroleum Engineers earn between $106,270 and $197,920 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,440 | $39.15 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,270 | $51.09 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $144,910 | $69.67 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $197,920 | $95.15 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $253,200 | $121.73 |
Highest-paying states for Petroleum Engineer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Petroleum Engineer pay at $206,290 a year, followed by Utah ($172,840) and Colorado ($172,190). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $93,360 — a gap of $112,930 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Petroleum Engineer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 16 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 18,000 people work as Petroleum Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $157,150 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other engineering roles with similar pay.