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Petroleum engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$144,910median pay per year, or $69.67 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $81,440lowest 10% earn less
  2. $106,27025th percentile
  3. $144,910median
  4. $197,92075th percentile
  5. $253,200top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[6]

A petroleum engineer typically needs a bachelor's degree[1], and the median pay was $144,910 a year[2]. BLS expects slower job growth than average, at 2% from 2025 to 2035[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2%[3]
Openings per year
1,000[7]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[1]

How much do petroleum engineers make?

In May 2025, the median wage for petroleum engineers was $144,910 a year, or $69.67 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[2]. The average was $157,150 a year, or $75.55 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[6]. So the petroleum engineer median was well above the all-occupations figure.

Pay varies widely. Here are the percentiles[5][9]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][9] $81,440 $39.16
25th[5][9] $106,270 $51.09
Median[2] $144,910 $69.67
75th[5][9] $197,920 $95.16
90th[5][9] $253,200 $121.73

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $81,440[5][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[10].

These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. In 2025, 1.7% of petroleum engineers were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state wages for only 16 states[13]. Alaska had the highest median at $206,290 a year, followed by Utah at $172,840 and Colorado at $172,190[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Anchorage, AK had the highest median at $212,240, then Salt Lake City-Murray, UT at $180,230 and Oklahoma City, OK at $176,200[14].

Texas had the most jobs at 9,140, followed by Oklahoma at 1,450 and Colorado at 1,390[15]. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area had the most jobs of any metro area at 4,770, with a median of $169,870[16].

Show median pay in 16 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[13]$206,290280
Utah$172,840280
Colorado$172,1901,390
Texas$164,8609,140
Oklahoma$153,0201,450
California$143,5901,060
Louisiana$139,640710
Washington$134,800190
North Dakota$132,120130
Kansas$115,640110
Montana$104,060n/a
Pennsylvania$101,880600
Nebraska$100,800150
New Mexico$99,900260
Ohio$99,260200
West Virginia$93,360380

How to become a petroleum engineer

The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree, with no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training[1]. The degree is usually in petroleum engineering or another engineering field, for example mechanical, civil or chemical[17]. Here are the steps from the facts:

Employers may also prefer graduates of an engineering program accredited by a professional association[21].

A license is not required for entry-level petroleum engineer jobs[22]. Experienced engineers may get a Professional Engineer (PE) license. It lets them oversee other engineers, sign off on projects and serve the public directly[22]. State licensure typically requires an engineering degree, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, several years of relevant experience and a passing score on the PE exam[23]. Each state issues its own license, and several states require continuing education to keep it[24].

With experience, petroleum engineers may move up to supervise a team and become engineering managers[25].

What petroleum engineers do

Petroleum engineers look for ways to improve oil and gas extraction and production. They also oversee drilling and give technical advice[26]. O*NET lists these tasks among the most important ones[27]:

Analytical skills matter because engineers evaluate data to monitor and improve production[28]. Communication and interpersonal skills matter too. Engineers explain technical information to varied audiences and work with other engineers and nontechnical oil and gas workers[29][30]. Workers report job titles such as drilling engineer, completion engineer and petroleum production engineer[31].

Where they work

In 2025, 33% of petroleum engineers worked in oil and gas extraction, the largest employer group listed[32]. Their usual workplaces are offices and drilling or well sites[33]. They may travel offshore, to remote areas or to other countries, sometimes for long periods[33].

Full-time work is the norm, and some engineers log over 40 hours a week[34]. Long shifts may be needed when traveling to drilling sites or helping fix operating problems[34].

Job outlook

BLS expects petroleum engineer employment to rise 2% between 2025 and 2035, from about 18,500 to 18,800 jobs, a gain of 400[3]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[4]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

About 1,000 openings a year are projected on average from 2025 to 2035[7]. Openings come from new jobs and also from workers who retire or move into other occupations[7]. Each year, an average of 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 3.5% move to a different occupation[35].

OEWS counted about 18,060 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[36]. That differs from the projection count because the projection count includes self-employed workers[36][3].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a well-paid field that asks for a bachelor's degree[2][1]. Median pay of $144,910 was far above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2][6]. The pay range is wide, and OEWS counted about 18,060 wage and salary jobs[5][36]. Projected growth of 2% is below the 3.5% rate for all occupations[3][4]. The work can involve travel to remote sites and long shifts[33][34]. Pay also differs by state, so check your own state's figures in the table below[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a petroleum engineer make an hour?
The median wage for petroleum engineers was $69.67 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $75.55 an hour[2][8].
What degree do you need to be a petroleum engineer?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education, usually in petroleum engineering or a related engineering field[1][17].
Do petroleum engineers need a license?
A license is not required for entry-level positions. Experienced engineers may get a Professional Engineer license[22].
Is petroleum engineering in demand?
Employment is projected to rise 2% over 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,000 openings a year[3][4][7].
What is the highest paying state for petroleum engineers?
Alaska had the highest median annual wage at $206,290 in May 2025, among the 16 states with published data[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Petroleum Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in the US was $144,910 per year and $69.67 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Petroleum Engineers is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,500 to 18,800 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Petroleum Engineers: 10th percentile $81,440, 25th percentile $106,270, 75th percentile $197,920, 90th percentile $253,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,000 openings for Petroleum Engineers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Petroleum Engineers was $157,150 per year and $75.55 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Petroleum Engineers: 10th percentile $39.16, 25th percentile $51.09, 75th percentile $95.16, 90th percentile $121.73. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 1.7% of Petroleum Engineers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Anchorage, AK $212,240; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $180,230; Oklahoma City, OK $176,200; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $174,580; Midland, TX $172,070; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $169,870; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $168,860; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $168,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Petroleum Engineers jobs: Texas 9,140; Oklahoma 1,450; Colorado 1,390; California 1,060; Louisiana 710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Petroleum Engineers jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 4,770 (median $169,870); Midland, TX 940 (median $172,070); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 910 (median $168,600); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 900 (median $174,580); Oklahoma City, OK 700 (median $176,200); Tulsa, OK 370 (median $130,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Petroleum Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Petroleum Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. O*NET 17-2171.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Completion Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Engineer, Operations Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Petroleum Production Engineer, Project Production Engineer, Project Reservoir Engineer. O*NET OnLine
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of petroleum engineers in 2025: Oil and gas extraction 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Petroleum Engineers: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 18,060 people were employed as Petroleum Engineers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.