How much does a petroleum engineer make in Houston?
$169,900a year
Median yearly pay for petroleum engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $81.67 an hour or $14,160 a month.
- Hourly
- $81.67
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 36
- Jobs in the area
- 4,770
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $89,990Median: $169,900Highest 10%: $288,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $89,990 | $43.26 | |
| 25th | $126,600 | $60.88 | |
| Median | $169,900 | $81.67 | |
| 75th | $225,100 | $108.21 | |
| 90th | $288,500 | $138.72 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for petroleum engineers.
| Midland, TX | $172,100 |
| Austin, TX | $168,900 |
| Dallas, TX | $168,600 |
| Beaumont, TX | $167,600 |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,500 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $155,900 |
| Odessa, TX | $135,600 |
| Tyler, TX | $132,500 |
| San Antonio, TX | $120,500 |
| Longview, TX | $101,300 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Marine Engineer and Naval Architect | $144,100 |
| Chemical Engineer | $138,100 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $137,700 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | $131,100 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $130,300 |
| Engineer | $130,300 |
| Electronics Engineer | $129,600 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,300 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $125,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $81.67 ($169,900 a year).
Do petroleum engineers make more in Houston than the national average?
Yes: $169,900 against $144,900 nationally, 17% more.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $164,900, so Houston pays 3% more.
Where does Houston rank for petroleum engineer pay?
6 of 36 metro areas with data.
How much does a petroleum engineer make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $89,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $288,500 or more.
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.