Petroleum Engineer Salary in Dallas, TX
Petroleum Engineers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $168,600 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $126,504 take-home, or $10,542 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median petroleum engineer salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,198
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,453
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,445
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$126,504
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Petroleum Engineer pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $114,080 | $54.85 | $89,085 | $7,424 |
| 25th percentile | $131,400 | $63.17 | $101,078 | $8,423 |
| Median (50th) | $168,600 | $81.06 | $126,504 | $10,542 |
| 75th percentile | $221,090 | $106.29 | $164,203 | $13,684 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $253,200+ | $121.73 | $185,283 | $15,440 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $168,600 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median petroleum engineer's $126,504 take-home pay has the buying power of $122,712 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dallas, TX has 1.9× the national concentration of petroleum engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for petroleum engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #4 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City, OK | $176,200 | $124,315 | $137,505 |
| 2 | Midland, TX | $172,070 | $128,876 | $134,550 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $169,870 | $127,372 | $129,143 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,600 | $126,504 | $122,712 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $174,580 | $123,618 | $116,861 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
Petroleum Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Midland, TX — $172,070
- Houston, TX — $169,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make in Dallas, TX?
The median petroleum engineer salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $168,600 a year, or about $81.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,400 and $221,090.
What is a petroleum engineer’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $168,600 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $126,504 a year ($10,542 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a petroleum engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $144,910. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $122,712 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #4 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a petroleum engineer afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median petroleum engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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