How much does a petroleum engineer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $69.67 an hour or $12,080 a month.
- Hourly
- $69.67
- Average (mean)
- $157,200
- Jobs
- 18,060
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,440 | $39.15 | |
| 25th | $106,300 | $51.09 | |
| Median | $144,900 | $69.67 | |
| 75th | $197,900 | $95.15 | |
| 90th | $253,200 | $121.73 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Alaska | $206,300 |
| Utah | $172,800 |
| Colorado | $172,200 |
| Texas | $164,900 |
| Oklahoma | $153,000 |
| California | $143,600 |
| Louisiana | $139,600 |
| Washington | $134,800 |
| North Dakota | $132,100 |
| Kansas | $115,600 |
| Montana | $104,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,900 |
| Nebraska | $100,800 |
| New Mexico | $99,900 |
| Ohio | $99,260 |
| West Virginia | $93,360 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Anchorage, AK | $212,200 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $180,200 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 |
| Denver, CO | $174,600 |
| Midland, TX | $172,100 |
| Houston, TX | $169,900 |
| Austin, TX | $168,900 |
| Dallas, TX | $168,600 |
| Beaumont, TX | $167,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $167,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $166,600 |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,500 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $161,900 |
| Oxnard, CA | $161,100 |
| Ogden, UT | $158,300 |
In other countries
Petroleum Engineer belongs to the international group "Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Health and Safety Engineer$115,200
- Industrial Engineer$102,400
- Marine Engineer and Naval Architect$112,200
- Materials Engineer$112,900
- Mechanical Engineer$104,100
- Mining and Geological Engineer$106,200
- Nuclear Engineer$134,000
- Engineer$122,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $69.67 ($144,900 a year).
How much does a petroleum engineer make a month?
About $12,080 a month before tax, based on a median of $144,900 a year.
How much does a petroleum engineer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $81,440 or less a year ($39.15 an hour); the top 10% make $253,200 or more.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska, with a median of $206,300 a year, followed by Utah ($172,800) and Colorado ($172,200).
Which city pays petroleum engineers the most?
Anchorage, AK, with a median of $212,200 a year.
How many petroleum engineers are there in the United States?
About 18,060 people work as petroleum engineers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.