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Petroleum Engineer Salary in 2026

Petroleum engineers design methods for extracting oil and gas from underground deposits. They develop drilling plans, optimize production techniques, and evaluate reservoir performance.

Median Salary

$129,000

$10,750/mo

Entry Level

$79,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$170,000

experienced

Job Growth

+3%

10-yr outlook

Petroleum Engineer Overview

Petroleum engineers design methods for extracting oil and gas from underground deposits. They develop drilling plans, optimize production techniques, and evaluate reservoir performance.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience

2-4 years

Industry

Engineering

Total Jobs (US)

35K

5-Year Growth

+14%

Category

Engineering

Hourly Rate

$62.02/hr

Monthly Pay

$10,750

Petroleum Engineer Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Petroleum Engineer salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Petroleum Engineer Salary

$139,000

$11,583/month · $5,346/biweekly · $66.83/hr

Petroleum Engineer Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Petroleum Engineer field.

25th Percentile$99,000
$99K
Median (50th)$129,000
$129K
75th Percentile$149,500
$150K
90th Percentile$191,500
$192K
Top Earners$213,000
$213K

Entry-level Petroleum Engineers earn around $79,000, while the top 10% earn $191,500 or more.

Top Paying States for Petroleum Engineers

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
Colorado$135,000+$6,000
Texas$126,000$-3,000
North Dakota$120,000$-9,000
Louisiana$119,000$-10,000
Oklahoma$117,000$-12,000

Top Paying Cities for Petroleum Engineers

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
Denver$137,000+$8,000
Williston$129,000$0
Houston$128,000$-1,000
New Orleans$123,000$-6,000
Oklahoma City$117,000$-12,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Reservoir SimulationDrillingProduction OptimizationPETRELWell Design

Certifications

PE LicenseFE Exam

Petroleum Engineer Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Petroleum Engineer from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$79,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$125,000

3-7 years

Senior

$170,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$213,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Petroleum Engineer Salary FAQ

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