How much does a Petroleum Engineers make?

The median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers is $144,910 ($70 per hour). Pay ranges from about $81,440 at the 10th percentile to $253,200 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Petroleum Engineers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $157,150, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Petroleum Engineerss the most?

Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $206,290.

Is Petroleum Engineers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 18K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Petroleum Engineers do?

Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.; Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.; Maintain records of drilling and production operations..

Petroleum Engineers Salary

Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 18K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$144,910

Median hourly

$70

Average annual

$157,150

Typical range

$81,440–$253,200

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$81,440

25th$106,270

Median$144,910

75th$197,920

90th$253,200

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Petroleum Engineers is $144,910 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $70 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice..

Most earn between $81,440 and $253,200 a year. There are roughly 18K people employed as petroleum engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Petroleum Engineers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $69.67
Daily: $557
Weekly: $2,787
Bi-weekly: $5,573
Monthly: $12,076
Annual: $144,910

$144,910 a year is around the 50th percentile for Petroleum Engineerss. The median is $144,910.

Petroleum Engineers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$39.20	$81,440
25th percentile	$51.10	$106,270
Median	$69.70	$144,910
75th percentile	$95.20	$197,920
90th percentile	$121.70	$253,200
Average (mean)	$75.50	$157,150
Employment	18,060 people

Key skills

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Systems Analysis
Systems Evaluation
Active Learning

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Alaska$206,290
2Utah$172,840
3Colorado$172,190
4Texas$164,860
5Oklahoma$153,020
6California$143,590
7Louisiana$139,640
8Washington$134,800
9North Dakota$132,120
10Kansas$115,640
11Montana$104,060
12Pennsylvania$101,880

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Anchorage, AK$212,240
2Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$180,230
3Oklahoma City, OK$176,200
4Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$174,580
5Midland, TX$172,070
6Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$169,870
7Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$168,860
8Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$168,600
9Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$167,600
10Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$167,000
11Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$166,570
12Lubbock, TX$164,480

Related job titles

Employers advertise Petroleum Engineers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Petroleum Engineers does

Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Petroleum Engineers make?: The median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers is $144,910 ($70 per hour). Pay ranges from about $81,440 at the 10th percentile to $253,200 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Petroleum Engineers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $157,150, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Petroleum Engineerss the most?: Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $206,290.
Is Petroleum Engineers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 18K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Petroleum Engineers do?: Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.; Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.; Maintain records of drilling and production operations..