Average Salary for Petroleum Engineers
SOC 17-2171 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in the United States is $141,280 ($67.92/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $78,840 at the 10th percentile to $228,790 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 18,970 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 8.6% since 2014.
Median Annual
$141,280
Mean Annual
$153,560
10th Pct
$78,840
75th Pct
$191,100
Employment
18,970
Salary Distribution
$79k
10th
$107k
25th
$141k
Median
$191k
75th
$229k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $205,380 |
| Amarillo, TX | $199,990 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $184,250 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $174,410 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $173,400 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $168,740 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $167,090 |
| Midland, TX | $165,880 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $163,310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,320 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $160,890 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $159,990 |
| Ogden, UT | $156,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $154,490 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $153,830 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $200,750 |
| Colorado | $167,540 |
| Utah | $166,580 |
| Tennessee | $164,240 |
| Texas | $153,200 |
| Wyoming | $152,770 |
| California | $147,780 |
| Oklahoma | $142,470 |
| New Jersey | $140,800 |
| Louisiana | $134,630 |
| Michigan | $131,250 |
| North Dakota | $130,090 |
| Washington | $129,660 |
| Minnesota | $128,580 |
| Kansas | $118,020 |
| New Mexico | $118,010 |
| Ohio | $108,070 |
| Nebraska | $107,250 |
| West Virginia | $102,900 |
| Arkansas | $102,110 |
| New York | $95,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $92,930 |
| Montana | $84,380 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Petroleum Engineers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $197,580 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $197,570 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $182,420 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $182,420 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $181,100 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $181,100 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,090 |
| Finance and Insurance | $167,050 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $164,960 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $164,960 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $162,120 |
| Manufacturing | $159,940 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $159,320 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $159,320 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $158,620 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $158,620 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $149,990 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $141,930 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $137,070 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $137,030 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $137,030 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $135,430 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $135,420 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $135,420 |
| Wholesale Trade | $135,360 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $132,160 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $131,440 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $131,440 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $127,930 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $127,930 |
| Engineering Services | $126,070 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $125,590 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $125,590 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $125,380 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $122,310 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $120,920 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $119,720 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $118,400 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $118,400 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $103,200 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $103,200 |
| Utilities | $99,000 |
| Utilities | $99,000 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $98,920 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $98,550 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $87,360 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $141,280 |
| 2023 | $135,690 |
| 2022 | $131,800 |
| 2021 | $130,850 |
| 2020 | $137,330 |
| 2019 | $137,720 |
| 2018 | $137,170 |
| 2017 | $132,280 |
| 2016 | $128,230 |
| 2015 | $129,990 |
| 2014 | $130,050 |