Petroleum Engineer Salary
Petroleum Engineers earn a median $144,910 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$144,910
$69.67 per hour
Range
$81,440 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
18,060
across the U.S.
Petroleum Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$110,312
per year · effective tax rate 23.9%
$9,193Monthly
$4,596Twice a month
$4,243Every 2 weeks
$53.03Hourly
- Federal income tax$23,512
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,984
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,101
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$110,312
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,440 | $39.15 | $66,123 |
| 25th percentile | $106,270 | $51.09 | $83,591 |
| Median (50th) | $144,910 | $69.67 | $110,312 |
| 75th percentile | $197,920 | $95.15 | $147,376 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $253,200+ | $121.73 | $185,283 |
Best cities for petroleum engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | $124,315 | $137,505 | 700 |
| 2 | Midland, TX | $172,070 | $128,876 | $134,550 | 940 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $169,870 | $127,372 | $129,143 | 4,770 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,600 | $126,504 | $122,712 | 910 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $174,580 | $123,618 | $116,861 | 900 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Oklahoma City, OK — $176,200
- Denver, CO — $174,580
- Midland, TX — $172,070
- Houston, TX — $169,870
- Dallas, TX — $168,600
Petroleum Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 | $153,560 | $129,150 – $239,200+ | 280 |
| Utah | $172,840 | $122,590 | $101,490 – $212,590 | 280 |
| Colorado | $172,190 | $122,090 | $92,590 – $239,200+ | 1,390 |
| Texas | $164,860 | $123,948 | $89,990 – $239,200+ | 9,140 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 | $109,515 | $86,990 – $221,320 | 1,450 |
| California | $143,590 | $98,419 | $61,780 – $207,370 | 1,060 |
| Louisiana | $139,640 | $102,907 | $43,440 – $221,800 | 710 |
| Washington | $134,800 | $103,402 | $107,690 – $184,360 | 190 |
| North Dakota | $132,120 | $100,253 | $82,530 – $170,040 | 130 |
| Kansas | $115,640 | $84,530 | $65,510 – $195,300 | 110 |
| Montana | $104,060 | $77,518 | $77,450 – $155,590 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $101,880 | $77,375 | $77,220 – $175,130 | 600 |
| Nebraska | $100,800 | $76,036 | $80,880 – $165,490 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $99,900 | $75,545 | $76,140 – $151,750 | 260 |
| Ohio | $99,260 | $76,712 | $79,010 – $139,440 | 200 |
| West Virginia | $93,360 | $70,944 | $79,860 – $220,130 | 380 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make?
The national median salary for petroleum engineers is $144,910 a year ($69.67 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $81,440 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays petroleum engineers the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $206,290. After taxes and local prices, Oklahoma City, OK offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many petroleum engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 18,060 people work as petroleum engineers nationwide.