Top 15 cities for petroleum engineers by average salary
| Anchorage, AK | $203,250 |
|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $184,150 |
| Denver, CO | $179,920 |
| Dallas, TX | $178,520 |
| Houston, TX | $177,780 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $177,150 |
| Austin, TX | $170,520 |
| Sacramento, CA | $168,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $162,800 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $162,190 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,650 |
| Beaumont, TX | $161,270 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $158,610 |
| Lubbock, TX | $158,220 |
| Wichita, KS | $154,110 |
Map: Petroleum Engineers salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Petroleum Engineers salary by state
Alaska pays petroleum engineers the most statewide, $199,700 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $199,700 | $206,290 | 280 | 1 | $203,250 | $203,250 |
| Texas | $171,580 | $164,860 | 9,140 | 12 | $184,150 | $115,870 |
| Colorado | $170,270 | $172,190 | 1,390 | 3 | $179,920 | $145,690 |
| Utah | $169,810 | $172,840 | 280 | 2 | $158,610 | $147,300 |
| Oklahoma | $155,900 | $153,020 | 1,450 | 2 | $177,150 | $139,140 |
| Washington | $149,490 | $134,800 | 190 | 1 | $151,000 | $151,000 |
| California | $147,940 | $143,590 | 1,060 | 5 | $168,400 | $137,320 |
| Louisiana | $138,270 | $139,640 | 710 | 1 | $153,850 | $153,850 |
| Wyoming | n/a | n/a | 280 | 1 | $134,950 | $134,950 |
| Michigan | n/a | n/a | 580 | 1 | $131,810 | $131,810 |
| North Dakota | $130,910 | $132,120 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $128,430 | $115,640 | 110 | 1 | $154,110 | $154,110 |
| West Virginia | $122,770 | $93,360 | 380 | 1 | $112,480 | $112,480 |
| Nebraska | $120,870 | $100,800 | 150 | 1 | $119,510 | $119,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $120,180 | $101,880 | 600 | 2 | $134,210 | $117,270 |
| Ohio | $111,350 | $99,260 | 200 | 1 | $108,730 | $108,730 |
| Montana | $111,330 | $104,060 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | $110,040 | $99,900 | 260 | 1 | $120,170 | $120,170 |
Petroleum Engineers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $203,250 | $212,240 | $97.71 | 200 |
| Midland, TX | $184,150 | $172,070 | $88.53 | 940 |
| Denver, CO | $179,920 | $174,580 | $86.50 | 900 |
| Dallas, TX | $178,520 | $168,600 | $85.83 | 910 |
| Houston, TX | $177,780 | $169,870 | $85.47 | 4,770 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $177,150 | $176,200 | $85.17 | 700 |
| Austin, TX | $170,520 | $168,860 | $81.98 | 150 |
| Sacramento, CA | $168,400 | $166,570 | $80.96 | 70 |
| Oxnard, CA | $162,800 | $161,050 | $78.27 | 40 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $162,190 | $155,870 | $77.98 | 110 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,650 | $167,000 | $77.72 | 330 |
| Beaumont, TX | $161,270 | $167,600 | $77.53 | 90 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $158,610 | $180,230 | $76.26 | 110 |
| Lubbock, TX | $158,220 | $164,480 | $76.07 | 100 |
| Wichita, KS | $154,110 | $111,590 | $74.09 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $153,850 | $148,390 | $73.97 | 320 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $151,330 | $161,940 | $72.76 | 50 |
| Seattle, WA | $151,000 | $134,800 | $72.60 | 40 |
| San Francisco, CA | $150,800 | $143,590 | $72.50 | n/a |
| Ogden, UT | $147,300 | $158,300 | $70.82 | 40 |
| Odessa, TX | $147,120 | $135,620 | $70.73 | 220 |
| Greeley, CO | $145,690 | $132,240 | $70.05 | 300 |
| Tyler, TX | $144,170 | $132,530 | $69.31 | 60 |
| El Paso, TX | $139,830 | $131,740 | $67.23 | 40 |
| Tulsa, OK | $139,140 | $130,750 | $66.89 | 370 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $137,320 | $147,440 | $66.02 | 160 |
| Casper, WY | $134,950 | $125,640 | $64.88 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $134,210 | $130,230 | $64.52 | 210 |
| Detroit, MI | $131,810 | $135,630 | $63.37 | n/a |
| San Antonio, TX | $129,910 | $120,460 | $62.46 | 240 |
| Farmington, NM | $120,170 | $111,570 | $57.78 | 30 |
| Lincoln, NE | $119,510 | $98,010 | $57.46 | n/a |
| Philadelphia, PA | $117,270 | $106,650 | $56.38 | 80 |
| Longview, TX | $115,870 | $101,290 | $55.71 | 130 |
| Charleston, WV | $112,480 | $88,860 | $54.08 | 80 |
| Columbus, OH | $108,730 | $99,260 | $52.27 | 60 |
Related jobs
- Civil EngineersU.S. average $108,670
- Electrical EngineersU.S. average $125,100
- Industrial EngineersU.S. average $109,900
- Mechanical EngineersU.S. average $113,610
- Engineers, All OtherU.S. average $125,330
- Aerospace EngineersU.S. average $142,060
- Chemical EngineersU.S. average $129,980
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerU.S. average $137,280
Petroleum Engineers salary: questions
Where do petroleum engineers make the most money?
In Anchorage, AK, with an average of $203,250 a year, among the 36 metro areas we cover.
What is the average petroleum engineers salary in the U.S.?
$157,150 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $144,910, so half of petroleum engineers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should petroleum engineers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of petroleum engineers nationwide earn between $106,270 (25th percentile) and $197,920 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska, with a statewide average of $199,700 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is petroleum engineers pay the lowest?
Columbus, OH, at $108,730 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2171.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.