Petroleum Engineer Salary & Career Insights

What is the average salary for a petroleum engineer in the United States?

$135,690 per year

According to BLS.gov, the average salary for a petroleum engineer in the United States is $135,690 annually. The lowest salary is $77,340 annually, and the highest is $225,920 annually.

Job Outlook & Work Environment

Job Outlook

πŸš€ 20,800; estimated number of petroleum engineer jobs. It is estimated that 500 new jobs will be added by 2033.

β˜€οΈ The projected job outlook is expected to grow at a rate of 2% which is slower than the growth of the average career.

Work Environment

πŸ’Ό Most petroleum engineers work in offices or at drilling and well sites.

🏒 30% of petroleum engineers work in oil and gas extraction while 20% work in support activities for mining.

Petroleum Salary Salary in Comparison to Patent Law Salaries

How Does a Petroleum Salary Salary Stack Up?

A petroleum engineer earns a competitive salary of around $135K annually. Patent agents earn an average of $130K annually. However, a patent agent with a background in petroleum engineering likely earns more than the average patent agent since this is such a lucrative field. Patent attorneys earn an average of $185K annually which is higher than either career.

Top Petroleum Salary Salaries by Industry

IndustryAverage Salary
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities$195,780
Scientific Research and Development Services$194,560
Chemical Manufacturing$187,920
Management of Companies and Enterprises$175,690
Oil and Gas Extraction$163,170
Annual mean wages.

Salary by Petroleum Salary Industry

In the U.S., the average petroleum engineering salary is $135,690.

Petroleum engineers in the credit intermediation and related activities industry earn the highest average salary at $195,780. Those in scientific research and development services closely follow with an average salary of $194,560. In chemical manufacturing, management of companies and enterprises, and oil and gas extraction, petroleum engineers earn average salaries of $187,920, $175,690, and $163,170, respectively.

Experience & Education

Here are some typical daily activities of a petroleum engineer:

  • Analyzing Data or Information β€” Breaking data or information into separate components to uncover underlying principles, reasons, or facts.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems β€” Assessing information and reviewing outcomes to determine the best solution and address issues.
  • Working with Computers β€” Utilizing computer systems and software to program, write code, configure functions, input data, or process information.
  • Getting Information β€” Collecting information through observation, reception, and gathering from all pertinent sources.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events β€” Categorizing and estimating information to recognize differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or occurrences.

Average Education

According to onetonline.org, 72% of petroleum engineers have a Bachelor’s degree.

Top Petroleum Salary Salaries by Location

Factors that Impact Pay

Petroleum engineers in Baton Rouge, LA, earn the highest average salary among the cities listed, at $179,490. Thibodaux, LA, follows with an average salary of $171,480. In Dallas, TX, Minneapolis, MN, and Denver, CO, petroleum engineers receive average salaries of $165,200, $164,670, and $164,210, respectively.

Petroleum engineers in New Jersey earn the highest average salary among the states listed, at $206,490. Minnesota follows with an average salary of $165,640, while Colorado offers $162,190. In Louisiana and Texas, petroleum engineers receive average salaries of $155,890 and $155,290, respectively.

Take a look at the average petroleum engineer salaries from top-paying cities according to Bls.gov data.

CityAverage Salary
Baton Rouge, LA$179,490
Thibodaux, LA$171,480
Dallas, TX$165,200
Minneapolis, MN$164,670
Denver, CO$164,210
Annual mean wages.

Related Careers

Patent Agent

Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.

Average of $130,168/year

Patent Agent

Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.

Average of $130,168/year

Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, machines, and other mechanical equipment.

Average of $99,510/year

Job Openings in the United States


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