Energy15% remote-eligible+1.5% YoY growth

Reservoir Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Model reservoirs and optimize recovery of oil and gas over a field's life. National median: $145K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$145K

Top 10% earn

$225K

Entry level

$115K

Salary growth

+1.5%/yr

Reservoir Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$150K	$189K	$234K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$147K	$186K	$230K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$142K	$178K	$222K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$141K	$178K	$221K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$141K	$178K	$221K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$140K	$177K	$220K	185	9.3%
Houston, TX	$138K	$174K	$216K	91	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$138K	$174K	$216K	175	None ✓
Washington, DC	$138K	$174K	$216K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$137K	$172K	$214K	172	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$136K	$171K	$212K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$136K	$171K	$212K	162	5%
Anchorage, AK	$136K	$171K	$212K	128	None ✓
Yonkers, NY	$135K	$170K	$211K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$135K	$170K	$211K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$134K	$168K	$209K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$132K	$167K	$207K	163	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$132K	$167K	$207K	148	9.3%
Denver, CO	$132K	$167K	$207K	118	4.55%
Arlington, VA	$132K	$167K	$207K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$132K	$167K	$207K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$132K	$167K	$207K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$131K	$166K	$206K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$130K	$164K	$203K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$129K	$163K	$202K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$129K	$163K	$202K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$128K	$162K	$201K	145	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$129K	$162K	$202K	155	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$128K	$162K	$201K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$127K	$160K	$198K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$127K	$160K	$198K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$127K	$160K	$198K	130	9.9%
Paterson, NJ	$127K	$160K	$198K	140	10.75%
Honolulu, HI	$127K	$160K	$198K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$126K	$159K	$197K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$126K	$159K	$197K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$126K	$159K	$197K	138	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$124K	$157K	$194K	96	None ✓
Austin, TX	$124K	$157K	$194K	110	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$124K	$157K	$194K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$124K	$157K	$194K	105	4.85%
Fort Worth, TX	$121K	$152K	$189K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$121K	$152K	$189K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$121K	$152K	$189K	97	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$121K	$152K	$189K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$121K	$152K	$189K	128	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$121K	$152K	$189K	112	4.55%
Philadelphia, PA	$121K	$152K	$189K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$121K	$152K	$189K	106	6.8%
Provo, UT	$121K	$152K	$189K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$121K	$152K	$189K	88	5%
Baltimore, MD	$121K	$152K	$189K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$121K	$152K	$189K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$121K	$152K	$189K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$120K	$152K	$188K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$120K	$151K	$187K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$119K	$150K	$186K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$117K	$148K	$184K	94	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$117K	$148K	$184K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$117K	$148K	$184K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$118K	$148K	$184K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$117K	$148K	$184K	118	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$118K	$148K	$184K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$117K	$148K	$184K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$117K	$148K	$184K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$117K	$148K	$184K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$118K	$148K	$184K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$117K	$148K	$184K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$117K	$148K	$183K	110	9.9%
Oklahoma City, OK	$117K	$148K	$184K	82	4.75%
Round Rock, TX	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$116K	$147K	$182K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$115K	$146K	$181K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$115K	$146K	$181K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$115K	$146K	$181K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$115K	$146K	$181K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$115K	$146K	$181K	105	5.8%
Garland, TX	$115K	$145K	$180K	91	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$115K	$145K	$180K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$115K	$145K	$180K	105	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$115K	$145K	$180K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$115K	$145K	$180K	100	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$115K	$145K	$180K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$115K	$145K	$180K	108	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$115K	$145K	$180K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$115K	$145K	$180K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$115K	$145K	$180K	88	6%
Denton, TX	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$115K	$144K	$179K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$115K	$144K	$179K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$114K	$144K	$178K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$113K	$143K	$177K	98	7.15%
San Antonio, TX	$113K	$142K	$176K	87	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$113K	$142K	$176K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$113K	$142K	$176K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$113K	$142K	$176K	118	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$113K	$142K	$176K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$113K	$142K	$176K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$113K	$142K	$176K	102	None ✓
Allentown, PA	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	3.07%
Charleston, SC	$113K	$142K	$176K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$112K	$142K	$176K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$111K	$141K	$174K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$111K	$141K	$174K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$111K	$141K	$174K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$111K	$141K	$174K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$111K	$141K	$174K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$111K	$140K	$173K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$110K	$139K	$173K	100	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$110K	$139K	$173K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$110K	$139K	$173K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$110K	$139K	$173K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$110K	$139K	$173K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$110K	$139K	$172K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$109K	$138K	$171K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$109K	$138K	$171K	105	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	4.75%
Detroit, MI	$109K	$138K	$171K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$109K	$138K	$171K	90	5.3%
Independence, MO	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$109K	$138K	$171K	88	3.23%
Lafayette, LA	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$109K	$138K	$171K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$108K	$136K	$169K	88	3.99%
Akron, OH	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$108K	$136K	$169K	86	5.3%
Springfield, MO	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$108K	$136K	$169K	90	5.3%
Bowling Green, KY	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$108K	$136K	$169K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$108K	$136K	$168K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$107K	$135K	$167K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$106K	$134K	$166K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$106K	$134K	$166K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$106K	$134K	$166K	75	6.5%
Fresno, CA	$106K	$133K	$166K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$106K	$133K	$166K	95	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$106K	$133K	$166K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$106K	$133K	$166K	85	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$106K	$133K	$166K	85	5%
Birmingham, AL	$106K	$133K	$166K	82	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$106K	$133K	$166K	88	5.9%
Rochester, NY	$104K	$131K	$162K	90	6.85%
Memphis, TN	$104K	$131K	$162K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$104K	$131K	$162K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$104K	$131K	$162K	90	4.25%
Des Moines, IA	$104K	$131K	$162K	88	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$104K	$131K	$162K	82	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$104K	$131K	$162K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$101K	$128K	$158K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$101K	$128K	$158K	88	6.85%
Tucson, AZ	$101K	$128K	$158K	90	2.5%
Columbia, SC	$101K	$128K	$158K	88	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$98K	$123K	$153K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$98K	$123K	$153K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$94K	$119K	$148K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $145K Reservoir 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 →

Reservoir Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Reservoir Engineer is $145,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $115,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $180,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Reservoir Engineers nationally earn $225,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's degree. 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

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

Reservoir Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Reservoir Engineer make?

The median Reservoir Engineer salary in the US is $145,000 per year — about $70/hour. Most earn between $115,000 (25th percentile) and $180,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Reservoir Engineer?

Entry-level Reservoir Engineer positions typically start around $115,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Reservoir Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Reservoir Engineers earn $225,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Reservoir Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Reservoir 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 Reservoir Engineer salaries going up?

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

Reservoir Engineer Salaryby City (2026)