Petroleum Engineers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,950 or more. The middle half of petroleum engineers in San Francisco earn between $143,580 and $165,560.
- $57K10th
- $144K25th
- $144KMedian
- $166K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $150,800 | $12,567 | $72.50 |
| Median | $143,590 | $11,966 | $69.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $143,580 | $11,965 | $69.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $165,560 | $13,797 | $79.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Petroleum Engineers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Petroleum engineers in San Francisco earn about the same as the California average ($147,940) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($157,150). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $144,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $150,800 | $143,590 | $57,420 | $217,950 | n/a |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $150,800, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $104,405 a year, or $8,700 a month and $4,016 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 San Francisco a good place for petroleum engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $150,800 buys what about $130,435 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Petroleum Engineers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 4th of 5 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($168,400).
- 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
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Petroleum Engineers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do petroleum engineers make an hour in San Francisco?
$72.50 an hour on average, and $69.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level petroleum engineers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $143,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the petroleum engineers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $104,405 a year ($8,700 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $150,800. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do petroleum engineers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.7%.
- 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.
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