Petroleum Engineer Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Petroleum Engineers
The median petroleum engineer salary in the United States is $144,910 per year ($69.67/hour). Salaries range from $81,440 at the entry level to $253,200+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 18,060 petroleum engineer jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Petroleum Engineer Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for petroleum engineers.
Petroleum Engineers design + develop oil + gas exploration + production. Career splits: majors (ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP), independent producers (Occidental, Marathon, Pioneer), service companies (Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes), consulting + engineering firms, government + regulatory. Path: bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering + FE + PE. Historically among the highest-paid engineering specialties but cyclical with commodity prices. Median compensation: entry $90-130k; mid $120-180k; senior $160-240k+; principal $200-320k+; executive $280-500k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Petroleum Engineer
- 1Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering (ABET-accredited)Top programs: Texas A&M, Stanford, Colorado School of Mines, LSU.
- 2FE exam during senior yearFirst step to PE.
- 3Entry engineer role at major or service companyStructured training programs.
- 4PE license after 4 yearsTechnical leadership + design certification.
- 5Specialize (reservoir, drilling, production, completions, unconventional)Specialty commands premium.
- 6Advance to Sr / Principal / ManagementHigher pay + broader scope.
Career Progression
- β’Rotational training + support
- β’Independent engineering
- β’Technical leadership + complex projects
- β’Multi-project + team leadership
- β’Executive team + P&L
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a reservoir project.case
Q2. How do you approach economics of a well?case
Q3. Tell me about a challenging project.behavioral
Q4. Why our company?culture
Q5. How do you handle safety on offshore?situational
Resume Template β Petroleum Engineer (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈPetroleum Engineer, [Company], responsible for reservoir engineering + production optimization.
- βΈPE license + SPE + specialty certifications.
- βΈLed development of $18M well program on-schedule + under-budget.
- βΈContributed to 40% production increase through optimization program.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak reservoir or drilling fundamentals.
- βPoor safety awareness.
- βBad-mouthing prior company.
- βMissing key software fluency.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + performance bonus + equity.
- βSign-on $15-50k common.
- βRelocation + housing (offshore + remote).
- βPE + SPE support.
- βPTO 4-5 weeks + rotation schedule.
- βHazard + rotation pay.
Petroleum Engineer Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired petroleum engineers. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Petroleum Engineer Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 5 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Petroleum Engineer Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 | +42.4% |
| Utah | $172,840 | +19.3% |
| Colorado | $172,190 | +18.8% |
| Texas | $164,860 | +13.8% |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | +5.6% |
| California | $143,590 | -0.9% |
| Louisiana | $139,640 | -3.6% |
| Washington | $134,800 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota | $132,120 | -8.8% |
| Kansas | $115,640 | -20.2% |
Petroleum Engineer Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $212,240 | +46.5% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $180,230 | +24.4% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | +21.6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $174,580 | +20.5% |
| Midland, TX | $172,070 | +18.7% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $169,870 | +17.2% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $168,860 | +16.5% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,600 | +16.3% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $167,600 | +15.7% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $167,000 | +15.2% |