Petroleum Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Petroleum Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $174,580 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,618 take-home, or $10,302 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median petroleum engineer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,633
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,824
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,531
- Colorado income tax$6,973
- Take-home pay$123,618
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Petroleum Engineer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,090 | $45.72 | $72,250 | $6,021 |
| 25th percentile | $119,890 | $57.64 | $88,606 | $7,384 |
| Median (50th) | $174,580 | $83.93 | $123,618 | $10,302 |
| 75th percentile | $214,500 | $103.13 | $150,877 | $12,573 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $283,790+ | $136.44 | $193,243 | $16,104 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $174,580 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median petroleum engineer's $123,618 take-home pay has the buying power of $116,861 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 4.8× 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
Denver, CO ranks #5 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make in Denver, CO?
The median petroleum engineer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $174,580 a year, or about $83.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $119,890 and $214,500.
What is a petroleum engineer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $174,580 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $123,618 a year ($10,302 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,973 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a petroleum engineer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $144,910. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $116,861 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #5 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a petroleum engineer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median petroleum engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Aerospace Engineer — $156,190
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $144,660
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Mechanical Engineer — $128,180
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Civil Engineer — $104,710
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — $93,100