Petroleum Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for petroleum engineers is $144,910, or $69.67 per hour. About 18,060 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $206,290 in Alaska to $93,360 in West Virginia.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 16 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $206,290 | $99.18 | 280 | 7.53 |
| 2 | Utah | $172,840 | $83.10 | 280 | 1.40 |
| 3 | Colorado | $172,190 | $82.78 | 1,390 | 4.16 |
| 4 | Texas | $164,860 | $79.26 | 9,140 | 5.60 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $153,020 | $73.57 | 1,450 | 7.29 |
| 6 | California | $143,590 | $69.03 | 1,060 | 0.50 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $139,640 | $67.13 | 710 | 3.17 |
| 8 | Washington | $134,800 | $64.81 | 190 | 0.45 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $132,120 | $63.52 | 130 | 2.58 |
| 10 | Kansas | $115,640 | $55.60 | 110 | 0.67 |
| 11 | Montana | $104,060 | $50.03 | — | — |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $101,880 | $48.98 | 600 | 0.85 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $100,800 | $48.46 | 150 | 1.22 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $99,900 | $48.03 | 260 | 2.59 |
| 15 | Ohio | $99,260 | $47.72 | 200 | 0.30 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $93,360 | $44.89 | 380 | 4.68 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum engineers make?
The median annual wage for petroleum engineers in the United States is $144,910, or $69.67 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $81,440, and the top 10% earn $253,200.
How many petroleum engineers are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,060 people work as petroleum engineers nationwide.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska pays the most at a median of $206,290, followed by Utah ($172,840) and Colorado ($172,190).
Which state pays petroleum engineers the least?
West Virginia has the lowest median at $93,360.
Where are petroleum engineers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alaska at 7.53×.