How much does a petroleum engineer make?
Answer: A typical petroleum engineer in the United States makes $144,910 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 18,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Petroleum engineer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $81,440 | $144,910 | $253,200 | about 18,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $172,190 | about 1,000 |
| Texas | $164,860 | about 9,000 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | about 1,000 |
| California | $143,590 | about 1,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,880 | about 600 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and a PE license can help raise pay, especially when they bring more responsibility. Pay also varies by employer industry and location.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a petroleum engineer do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
They study well data in an office and plan how to drill and bring up more oil or gas. They work with geologists and field crews, and may visit a rig to check progress or solve a problem.
How to get this job
Earn a U.S. bachelor’s in petroleum, mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering; internships help. A state PE license isn’t needed to start, but it usually takes relevant work experience and passing the FE and PE exams.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out.
Did you know?
Some U.S. oil wells bend sideways underground for several miles, letting them reach more of the oil-bearing rock.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Architecture and Engineering jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/petroleum-engineers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2171.00
- www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=34732
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY