EnergyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Drilling Engineer Salary
in Fort Worth, TX

Plan and oversee the drilling of oil and gas wells safely and efficiently. Median salary in Fort Worth: $137K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$137K
per year
Take-home: $96K

Salary range in Fort Worth

Entry level (25th)$105,000
Median (50th)$137,000
Senior (75th)$173,000
Top earner (90th)$215,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Fort Worth, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Fort Worth

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

5% premium vs national median

Drilling Engineers in Fort Worth earn approximately 5% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $7,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Fort Worth's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Fort Worth's cost-of-living index (93), the median Drilling Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $147,312 in a US-average-cost city. That's $17,312 more purchasing power than the national median β€” a meaningful real-wage advantage.

No state income tax β€” $13K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $12,741 per year at this salary level compared to a California Drilling Engineer on the same gross pay. A Fort Worth Drilling Engineer would need to earn $151,047 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Fort Worth

Median salary
$137K
annual
Take-home pay
$96K
after fed/state tax
COL index
93
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,280
per month
YoY growth
+1%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Fort Worth Drilling Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $137K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Fort Worth

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Drilling Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$115K$125K$135K$145K$155K201920212023202520272029
2026
$140K
projected
2027
$144K
projected
2028
$148K
projected
2029
$151K
projected
2030
$155K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$137,000+$0
2028 projected$137,000+$0
2029 projected$137,000+$0
2030 projected$137,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Drilling Engineer Salary in Fort Worth, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Drilling Engineer salary in Fort Worth, TX is $137,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Fort Worth–TX 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.

Salary range for Drilling Engineer in Fort Worth

Entry-level Drilling Engineers in Fort Worth with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $105,000 and $137,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $137,000 to $173,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $173,000 to $215,000 or more.

Cost of living in Fort Worth for Drilling Engineers

Fort Worth has a cost of living index of 93 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 7% further in Fort Worth than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Fort Worth-based Drilling Engineers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Drilling Engineer

Bachelor's degree. 10% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Drilling Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Fort Worth (current)$137K93
Houston$156K91
San Antonio$127K87
Dallas$140K96
Austin$140K110
El Paso$114K82