Energy15% remote-eligible+1.5% YoY growth

Petroleum Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Develop methods to extract oil and gas from below the Earth's surface. National median: $145K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$145K

Top 10% earn

$240K

Entry level

$110K

Salary growth

+1.5%/yr

Petroleum Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$143K	$189K	$244K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$141K	$186K	$241K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$135K	$178K	$231K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$135K	$178K	$230K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$135K	$178K	$230K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$134K	$177K	$229K	185	9.3%
Houston, TX	$132K	$174K	$226K	91	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$132K	$174K	$225K	175	None ✓
Washington, DC	$132K	$174K	$226K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$131K	$172K	$224K	172	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$130K	$171K	$222K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$130K	$171K	$222K	162	5%
Anchorage, AK	$130K	$171K	$222K	128	None ✓
Yonkers, NY	$129K	$170K	$220K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$129K	$170K	$220K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$128K	$168K	$218K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$126K	$167K	$216K	163	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$126K	$167K	$216K	148	9.3%
Denver, CO	$126K	$167K	$216K	118	4.55%
Arlington, VA	$126K	$167K	$216K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$126K	$167K	$216K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$127K	$167K	$216K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$126K	$166K	$215K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$124K	$164K	$212K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$124K	$163K	$211K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$124K	$163K	$211K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$123K	$162K	$210K	145	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$123K	$162K	$211K	155	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$123K	$162K	$210K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$121K	$160K	$207K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$121K	$160K	$207K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$121K	$160K	$207K	130	9.9%
Paterson, NJ	$121K	$160K	$207K	140	10.75%
Honolulu, HI	$121K	$160K	$207K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$121K	$159K	$206K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$121K	$159K	$206K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$121K	$159K	$206K	138	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$119K	$157K	$203K	96	None ✓
Austin, TX	$119K	$157K	$203K	110	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$119K	$157K	$203K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$119K	$157K	$203K	105	4.85%
Fort Worth, TX	$116K	$152K	$197K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$116K	$152K	$197K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$116K	$152K	$197K	97	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$116K	$152K	$197K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$116K	$152K	$197K	128	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$116K	$152K	$197K	112	4.55%
Philadelphia, PA	$116K	$152K	$197K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$116K	$152K	$197K	106	6.8%
Provo, UT	$116K	$152K	$197K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$116K	$152K	$197K	88	5%
Baltimore, MD	$116K	$152K	$197K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$116K	$152K	$198K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$116K	$152K	$197K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$115K	$152K	$197K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$114K	$151K	$196K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$114K	$150K	$194K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$112K	$148K	$192K	94	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$112K	$148K	$192K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$112K	$148K	$192K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$113K	$148K	$193K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$112K	$148K	$192K	118	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$113K	$148K	$193K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$112K	$148K	$192K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$112K	$148K	$192K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$112K	$148K	$192K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$113K	$148K	$193K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$112K	$148K	$192K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$112K	$148K	$191K	110	9.9%
Oklahoma City, OK	$112K	$148K	$192K	82	4.75%
Round Rock, TX	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$111K	$147K	$190K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$110K	$146K	$189K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$110K	$146K	$189K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$110K	$146K	$189K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$110K	$146K	$189K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$110K	$146K	$189K	105	5.8%
Garland, TX	$110K	$145K	$188K	91	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$110K	$145K	$188K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$110K	$145K	$188K	105	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$110K	$145K	$188K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$110K	$145K	$188K	100	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$110K	$145K	$188K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$110K	$145K	$188K	108	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$110K	$145K	$188K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$110K	$145K	$188K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$110K	$145K	$188K	88	6%
Denton, TX	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$110K	$144K	$187K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$110K	$144K	$187K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$109K	$144K	$186K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$108K	$143K	$185K	98	7.15%
San Antonio, TX	$108K	$142K	$184K	87	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$108K	$142K	$184K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$108K	$142K	$184K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$108K	$142K	$184K	118	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$108K	$142K	$184K	102	None ✓
Allentown, PA	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	3.07%
Charleston, SC	$108K	$142K	$184K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$107K	$142K	$184K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$107K	$141K	$182K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$107K	$141K	$182K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$107K	$141K	$182K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$107K	$141K	$182K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$107K	$141K	$182K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$106K	$140K	$181K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$106K	$139K	$180K	100	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$106K	$139K	$180K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$106K	$139K	$180K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$106K	$139K	$180K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$106K	$139K	$180K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$105K	$139K	$180K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$105K	$138K	$179K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$105K	$138K	$179K	105	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	4.75%
Detroit, MI	$105K	$138K	$179K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$105K	$138K	$179K	90	5.3%
Independence, MO	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$105K	$138K	$179K	88	3.23%
Lafayette, LA	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$104K	$138K	$178K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$103K	$136K	$177K	88	3.99%
Akron, OH	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$103K	$136K	$177K	86	5.3%
Springfield, MO	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$103K	$136K	$177K	90	5.3%
Bowling Green, KY	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$104K	$136K	$177K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$103K	$136K	$176K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$102K	$135K	$175K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$101K	$134K	$173K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$101K	$134K	$173K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$101K	$134K	$173K	75	6.5%
Fresno, CA	$101K	$133K	$173K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$101K	$133K	$173K	95	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$101K	$133K	$173K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	5%
Birmingham, AL	$101K	$133K	$173K	82	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$101K	$133K	$173K	88	5.9%
Rochester, NY	$99K	$131K	$169K	90	6.85%
Memphis, TN	$99K	$131K	$169K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$99K	$131K	$169K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$99K	$131K	$169K	90	4.25%
Des Moines, IA	$99K	$131K	$169K	88	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$99K	$131K	$169K	82	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$99K	$131K	$169K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$97K	$128K	$165K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$97K	$128K	$165K	88	6.85%
Tucson, AZ	$97K	$128K	$165K	90	2.5%
Columbia, SC	$97K	$128K	$165K	88	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$94K	$123K	$160K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$94K	$123K	$160K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$90K	$119K	$154K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $145K Petroleum 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 →

Petroleum Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Petroleum Engineer is $145,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $110,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $188,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Petroleum Engineers nationally earn $240,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering. This role is 15% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Petroleum Engineer compensation is growing at 1.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Petroleum Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Petroleum Engineer make?

The median Petroleum Engineer salary in the US is $145,000 per year — about $70/hour. Most earn between $110,000 (25th percentile) and $188,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Petroleum Engineer?

Entry-level Petroleum Engineer positions typically start around $110,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Petroleum Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Petroleum Engineers earn $240,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Petroleum Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Petroleum Engineer salary at $189K 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 Petroleum Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — Petroleum Engineer pay is growing about 1.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Petroleum Engineer Salaryby City (2026)