Petroleum Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Petroleum Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $169,870 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $127,372 take-home, or $10,614 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median petroleum engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,503
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,532
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,463
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$127,372
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Petroleum Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,990 | $43.26 | $72,138 | $6,011 |
| 25th percentile | $126,640 | $60.88 | $97,824 | $8,152 |
| Median (50th) | $169,870 | $81.67 | $127,372 | $10,614 |
| 75th percentile | $225,080 | $108.21 | $166,822 | $13,902 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $288,530+ | $138.72 | $207,991 | $17,333 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $169,870 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median petroleum engineer's $127,372 take-home pay has the buying power of $129,143 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 12.5× 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
Houston, TX ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $169,870 | $127,372 | $129,143 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: petroleum engineers
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median petroleum engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $169,870 a year, or about $81.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,640 and $225,080.
What is a petroleum engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $169,870 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $127,372 a year ($10,614 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a petroleum engineer?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $144,910. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $129,143 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a petroleum engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median petroleum engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Civil Engineer — $100,950
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,590
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $76,120
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $63,120
- Surveying and Mapping Technician — $49,570