How much does a petroleum engineer make in California?
$143,600a year
Median yearly pay for petroleum engineers in California. That is $69.03 an hour or $11,970 a month.
- Hourly
- $69.03
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among states
- 6 of 16
- Jobs in the state
- 1,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,780Median: $143,600Highest 10%: $207,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,780 | $29.70 | |
| 25th | $126,500 | $60.82 | |
| Median | $143,600 | $69.03 | |
| 75th | $172,000 | $82.68 | |
| 90th | $207,400 | $99.70 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Los Angeles, CA | $167,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $166,600 |
| Oxnard, CA | $161,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $147,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $143,600 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for petroleum engineers.
| 3. Colorado | $172,200 |
| 4. Texas | $164,900 |
| 5. Oklahoma | $153,000 |
| 6. California | $143,600 |
| 7. Louisiana | $139,600 |
| 8. Washington | $134,800 |
| 9. North Dakota | $132,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $69.03 ($143,600 a year).
Do petroleum engineers make more in California than the national average?
No: $143,600 against $144,900 nationally, 1% less.
Where does California rank for petroleum engineer pay?
California ranks 6 of 16 states.
Which city in California pays petroleum engineers the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median of $167,000 a year.
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.