Energy10% remote-eligible+1% YoY growth

Drilling Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Plan and oversee the drilling of oil and gas wells safely and efficiently. National median: $130K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$130K

Top 10% earn

$205K

Entry level

$100K

Salary growth

+1%/yr

Drilling Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$130K	$169K	$215K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$128K	$166K	$211K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$123K	$160K	$203K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$122K	$159K	$201K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$123K	$159K	$202K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$123K	$159K	$202K	185	11%
Houston, TX	$120K	$156K	$198K	91	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$120K	$156K	$198K	175	None ✓
Washington, DC	$120K	$156K	$198K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$119K	$155K	$196K	172	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$118K	$153K	$195K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$118K	$153K	$195K	162	5%
Anchorage, AK	$118K	$153K	$195K	128	None ✓
Yonkers, NY	$117K	$152K	$193K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$117K	$152K	$193K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$116K	$151K	$192K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$115K	$150K	$190K	163	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$115K	$150K	$190K	148	9.3%
Denver, CO	$115K	$150K	$190K	118	4.55%
Arlington, VA	$115K	$150K	$190K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$115K	$150K	$190K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$115K	$150K	$190K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$114K	$149K	$189K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$113K	$147K	$186K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$112K	$146K	$185K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$112K	$146K	$185K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$112K	$146K	$185K	155	10.75%
Alexandria, VA	$112K	$145K	$184K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$112K	$145K	$184K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$110K	$143K	$182K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$110K	$143K	$182K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$110K	$143K	$182K	130	9.9%
Paterson, NJ	$110K	$143K	$182K	140	10.75%
Honolulu, HI	$110K	$143K	$182K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$110K	$142K	$181K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$110K	$142K	$181K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$110K	$142K	$181K	138	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$108K	$140K	$178K	96	None ✓
Austin, TX	$108K	$140K	$178K	110	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$108K	$140K	$178K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$108K	$140K	$178K	105	4.85%
Fort Worth, TX	$105K	$137K	$173K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$105K	$137K	$173K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$105K	$137K	$173K	97	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$105K	$137K	$173K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$105K	$137K	$173K	128	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$105K	$137K	$173K	112	4.55%
Philadelphia, PA	$105K	$137K	$173K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$105K	$137K	$173K	106	6.8%
Provo, UT	$105K	$137K	$173K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$105K	$137K	$173K	88	5%
Baltimore, MD	$105K	$137K	$173K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$105K	$137K	$173K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$105K	$137K	$173K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$105K	$136K	$173K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$104K	$135K	$172K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$103K	$134K	$170K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$102K	$133K	$168K	94	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$102K	$133K	$168K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$102K	$133K	$168K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$102K	$133K	$169K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$102K	$133K	$168K	118	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$102K	$133K	$169K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$102K	$133K	$168K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$102K	$133K	$168K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$102K	$133K	$168K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$102K	$133K	$169K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$102K	$133K	$168K	104	6.8%
Oklahoma City, OK	$102K	$133K	$168K	82	4.75%
Round Rock, TX	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	4.55%
Eugene, OR	$102K	$132K	$168K	110	9.9%
Boise, ID	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$101K	$132K	$167K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$100K	$131K	$166K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$100K	$131K	$166K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$100K	$131K	$166K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$100K	$131K	$166K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$100K	$131K	$166K	105	5.8%
Garland, TX	$100K	$130K	$165K	91	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$100K	$130K	$165K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$100K	$130K	$165K	105	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$100K	$130K	$165K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$100K	$130K	$165K	100	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$100K	$130K	$165K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$100K	$130K	$165K	108	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$100K	$130K	$165K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$100K	$130K	$165K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$100K	$130K	$165K	88	6%
Denton, TX	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$100K	$129K	$164K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$100K	$129K	$164K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$99K	$129K	$164K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$99K	$128K	$163K	98	7.15%
San Antonio, TX	$98K	$127K	$162K	87	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$98K	$127K	$162K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$98K	$127K	$162K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$98K	$127K	$162K	118	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$98K	$127K	$162K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$98K	$127K	$162K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$98K	$127K	$162K	102	None ✓
Allentown, PA	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	3.07%
Charleston, SC	$98K	$127K	$162K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$98K	$127K	$161K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$97K	$126K	$160K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$97K	$126K	$160K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$97K	$126K	$160K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$97K	$126K	$160K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$97K	$126K	$160K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$96K	$125K	$158K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$96K	$125K	$158K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$96K	$125K	$158K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	4.25%
Madison, WI	$96K	$125K	$158K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$96K	$125K	$158K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$96K	$125K	$159K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$96K	$125K	$158K	88	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$95K	$124K	$157K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$95K	$124K	$157K	105	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$95K	$124K	$157K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$95K	$124K	$157K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$95K	$124K	$157K	88	3.23%
Beaumont, TX	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$95K	$123K	$157K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$94K	$122K	$155K	88	3.99%
Akron, OH	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$94K	$122K	$155K	86	5.3%
Springfield, MO	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$94K	$122K	$155K	90	5.3%
Bowling Green, KY	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$94K	$122K	$155K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$94K	$122K	$154K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$93K	$121K	$153K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$92K	$120K	$152K	75	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$92K	$120K	$152K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$92K	$120K	$152K	95	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$92K	$120K	$152K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$92K	$120K	$152K	85	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$92K	$120K	$152K	85	5%
Birmingham, AL	$92K	$120K	$152K	82	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$92K	$120K	$152K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$92K	$120K	$152K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$92K	$120K	$152K	75	6.5%
Rochester, NY	$90K	$117K	$149K	90	6.85%
Memphis, TN	$90K	$117K	$149K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$90K	$117K	$149K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$90K	$117K	$149K	90	4.25%
Des Moines, IA	$90K	$117K	$149K	88	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$90K	$117K	$149K	82	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$90K	$117K	$149K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$88K	$114K	$145K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$88K	$114K	$145K	88	6.85%
Tucson, AZ	$88K	$114K	$145K	90	2.5%
Columbia, SC	$88K	$114K	$145K	88	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$85K	$111K	$140K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$85K	$111K	$140K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$82K	$107K	$135K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $130K Drilling Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Drilling Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Drilling Engineer is $130,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $100,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $165,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Drilling Engineers nationally earn $205,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's degree. This role is 10% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Drilling Engineer compensation is growing at 1% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Drilling Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Drilling Engineer make?

The median Drilling Engineer salary in the US is $130,000 per year — about $63/hour. Most earn between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $165,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Drilling Engineer?

Entry-level Drilling Engineer positions typically start around $100,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Drilling Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Drilling Engineers earn $205,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Drilling Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Drilling Engineer salary at $169K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Drilling Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — Drilling Engineer pay is growing about 1% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Drilling Engineer Salaryby City (2026)