Petroleum Engineers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for petroleum engineerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- New Mexico$110,040
- Montana$111,330
- Ohio$111,350
- Pennsylvania$120,180
- Nebraska$120,870
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $199,700 | $206,290 | $96 | +27.1% | 280 |
| 2 | Texas | $171,580 | $164,860 | $82 | +9.2% | 9,140 |
| 3 | Colorado | $170,270 | $172,190 | $82 | +8.3% | 1,390 |
| 4 | Utah | $169,810 | $172,840 | $82 | +8.1% | 280 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $155,900 | $153,020 | $75 | -0.8% | 1,450 |
| 6 | Washington | $149,490 | $134,800 | $72 | -4.9% | 190 |
| 7 | California | $147,940 | $143,590 | $71 | -5.9% | 1,060 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $138,270 | $139,640 | $66 | -12% | 710 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $130,910 | $132,120 | $63 | -16.7% | 130 |
| 10 | Kansas | $128,430 | $115,640 | $62 | -18.3% | 110 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $122,770 | $93,360 | $59 | -21.9% | 380 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $120,870 | $100,800 | $58 | -23.1% | 150 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $120,180 | $101,880 | $58 | -23.5% | 600 |
| 14 | Ohio | $111,350 | $99,260 | $54 | -29.1% | 200 |
| 15 | Montana | $111,330 | $104,060 | $54 | -29.2% | — |
| 16 | New Mexico | $110,040 | $99,900 | $53 | -30% | 260 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 58 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $212,240 | $203,250 | 200 |
| 2 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $183,400 | $194,620 | 80 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $180,230 | $158,610 | 110 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | $177,150 | 700 |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $174,580 | $179,920 | 900 |
| 6 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $172,840 | $186,730 | 120 |
| 7 | Midland, TX | $172,070 | $184,150 | 940 |
| 8 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $169,870 | $177,780 | 4,770 |
| 9 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $168,860 | $170,520 | 150 |
| 10 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,600 | $178,520 | 910 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing petroleum engineerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $217,210 | $221,990 | — |
| 2 | Sector 52 - Finance and Insurance | $217,210 | $207,320 | 60 |
| 3 | Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $217,210 | $221,990 | — |
| 4 | Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $214,230 | $193,330 | 30 |
| 5 | Chemical Manufacturing | $180,630 | $183,850 | 80 |
| 6 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $180,630 | $183,850 | 80 |
| 7 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $180,080 | $193,990 | 5,900 |
| 8 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $180,080 | $193,990 | 5,900 |
| 9 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $171,710 | $177,950 | 1,670 |
| 10 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $171,710 | $177,950 | 1,670 |
| 11 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $171,710 | $177,950 | 1,670 |
| 12 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $166,570 | $154,930 | 240 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do petroleum engineers make in the U.S.?
The median petroleum engineers salary in the United States is $144,910 per year (mean $157,150), and about 80% earn between $81,440 and $253,200.
How much do petroleum engineers make per hour?
Roughly $76 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $157,150 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for petroleum engineers at $199,700 per year (median $206,290).
What is the job outlook for petroleum engineers?
Employment is projected to change +1.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 1,200 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.