Plan and oversee the drilling of oil and gas wells safely and efficiently. Median salary in Denver: $150K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Denver, Colorado. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Drilling Engineers in Denver earn approximately 15% higher than the US national median for this role — a $20,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Denver's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Denver's cost-of-living index (118), the median Drilling Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $127,119 in a US-average-cost city. That's $2,881 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Only 10% of Drilling Engineer positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Denver salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $150K by 2030.
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The median Drilling Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $150,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Denver–CO metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Drilling Engineers in Denver with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $115,000 and $150,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $150,000 to $190,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $190,000 to $236,000 or more.
Denver has a cost of living index of 118 compared to the US national average of 100. Denver's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Colorado has a 4.55% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's degree. 10% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.