Petroleum Engineers pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $134,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,390 or more. The middle half of petroleum engineers in Sacramento earn between $146,760 and $186,440.
- $135K10th
- $147K25th
- $167KMedian
- $186K75th
- $213K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $168,400 | $14,033 | $80.96 |
| Median | $166,570 | $13,881 | $80.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $146,760 | $12,230 | $70.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $186,440 | $15,537 | $89.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Petroleum Engineers pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Petroleum engineers in Sacramento earn 14% more than the California average ($147,940) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($157,150). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $144,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $168,400 | $166,570 | $134,570 | $213,390 | 70 |
| California | $147,940 | $143,590 | $61,780 | $207,370 | 1,060 |
| United States | $157,150 | $144,910 | $81,440 | $253,200 | 18,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Petroleum Engineers salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $168,400, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $114,798 a year, or $9,567 a month and $4,415 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for petroleum engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $168,400 buys what about $157,870 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Petroleum Engineers salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 1st of 5 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Sacramento$168,400
- Oxnard$162,800
- Los Angeles$161,650
- San Francisco$150,800
- Bakersfield$137,320
Highest-paying cities for petroleum engineers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($203,250).
- Anchorage, AK$203,250
- Midland, TX$184,150
- Denver, CO$179,920
- Dallas, TX$178,520
- Houston, TX$177,780
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Petroleum Engineers salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do petroleum engineers make an hour in Sacramento?
$80.96 an hour on average, and $80.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level petroleum engineers salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $134,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $146,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the petroleum engineers take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $114,798 a year ($9,567 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $168,400. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do petroleum engineers earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($157,150).
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; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.