How Much Does a What Is Petroleum Engineering Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$144,910
Petroleum engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $144,910 a year, or $69.67 an hour. Half of petroleum engineers earn more than $144,910 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $253,200.
Pay percentiles for petroleum engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39.16 | $81,440 |
| 25th | $51.09 | $106,270 |
| 50th (median) | $69.67 | $144,910 |
| 75th | $95.16 | $197,920 |
| 90th | $121.73 | $253,200 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Petroleum Engineers (SOC 17-2171). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for petroleum engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 | $99.18 | +42% |
| Utah | $172,840 | $83.10 | +19% |
| Colorado | $172,190 | $82.78 | +19% |
| Texas | $164,860 | $79.26 | +14% |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | $73.57 | +6% |
| California | $143,590 | $69.03 | −1% |
| Louisiana | $139,640 | $67.13 | −4% |
| Washington | $134,800 | $64.81 | −7% |
| North Dakota | $132,120 | $63.52 | −9% |
| Kansas | $115,640 | $55.60 | −20% |
| United States | $144,910 | $69.67 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many petroleum engineers are there?
BLS counts about 18,060 petroleum engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in Texas (9,140), Oklahoma (1,450) and Colorado (1,390).
The mean (average) annual wage is $157,150, higher than the median of $144,910.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $12,076
- Biweekly
- $5,573
- Weekly
- $2,787
- Daily (8 hours)
- $557
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for petroleum engineers is $69.67. The middle 50% earn between $51.09 and $95.16 an hour.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska has the highest median wage for petroleum engineers at $206,290, +42% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for petroleum engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of petroleum engineers earn less than $81,440 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.