Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Petroleum engineers work in a specialized field that combines science, mathematics, and technology to support energy-related projects. This career offers a relatively small national workforce of 20,000 positions, which can make each role highly specialized and focused. Nationally, the median annual salary of $141,280 reflects strong earning potential, and a projected employment growth rate of 1.3% indicates modest expansion rather than rapid change. Around 1,000 annual openings suggest a steady, but not high-volume, flow of new opportunities, which may come from a mix of new positions and turnover. Successful professionals in this field rely on a blend of critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, project management, and strong foundations in mathematics and science. Strong communication skills, including speaking, listening, writing, and reading, also matter, along with familiarity with computers and information technology. Leadership, creativity, and innovation further support advancement and effectiveness in this career path.
Petroleum engineers have a national median annual salary of $141,280, indicating substantial earning potential. Pay levels vary across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, Colorado shows a median salary of $172,190 and Texas shows $164,860, both above the national median. California also stands out with $143,590, while Washington and North Dakota have medians of $134,800 and $132,120, respectively. At the metro level, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO reports a median salary of $174,580, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX reports $168,600. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has a median salary of $167,000, while Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is at $134,800 and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $106,650. These differences show that earnings can vary significantly by location, so geographic preferences and mobility can play a major role in shaping long-term income for petroleum engineers.
The national employment level for petroleum engineers is 20,000, indicating a relatively limited but focused workforce. Projected employment growth of 1.3% points to modest expansion over the projection period, rather than rapid increases in positions. With about 1,000 annual openings, job opportunities appear consistent but not high volume, which may appeal to individuals seeking a specialized field with a steady flow of roles rather than a rapidly fluctuating labor market. This combination of a small overall employment base, moderate growth, and a defined number of openings suggests that competition and opportunity will likely depend heavily on location, skills, and experience. For those considering alternatives, related careers include mining and geological engineers (including mining safety engineers), engineers (all other), electrical engineers, environmental engineers, and animal scientists, which can offer different labor-market dynamics while drawing on overlapping technical or analytical strengths.
Location plays a major role in the petroleum engineering career landscape. Among states, California has an opportunity score of 67.38 with a median salary of $143,590 and employment of 1,060. Colorado combines a median salary of $172,190 with employment of 1,390 and an opportunity score of 56.97, making it notable for both pay and job count. Texas stands out for scale, with 9,140 employed and a median salary of $164,860, and an opportunity score of 51.57. Washington and North Dakota offer smaller employment bases—190 and 130 respectively—with median salaries of $134,800 and $132,120 and opportunity scores of 56.29 and 48.53. At the metro level, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA leads with an opportunity score of 62.99 and a median salary of $167,000. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO offers $174,580 with an opportunity score of 57.05, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX offers $168,600. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD provide smaller employment numbers but still meaningful opportunities.
The typical education requirement for petroleum engineers is a bachelor’s degree, which sets a clear academic benchmark for entering the field. This degree supports the development of core technical foundations in mathematics and science, both of which are highlighted as key skills for success. The role also calls for strong critical and analytical thinking, as well as problem solving and decision making, indicating that coursework and experiences that build analytical rigor can be valuable. Project management skills are important, reflecting the need to organize tasks, timelines, and resources. Familiarity with computers and information technology is another important element, reinforcing the need for comfort with technical tools and digital work environments. Communication abilities—writing, reading, speaking, and listening—are also central, supporting collaboration and documentation. Creativity, innovation, and leadership round out the skill profile, suggesting that aspiring petroleum engineers can benefit from educational experiences that combine technical depth with opportunities to lead and think in new ways.
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