Petroleum Engineer Salary
in Seattle, WA
Develop methods to extract oil and gas from below the Earth's surface. Median salary in Seattle: $181K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Salary range in Seattle
Source: BLS OES 2026, H-1B DOL Disclosures Q1 2026. Figures represent annual base salary in Seattle, Washington.
Key facts for Seattle
Salary forecast: Seattle Petroleum Engineer to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $192K by 2030.
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Petroleum Engineer Salary in Seattle, Washington: Complete Guide (2026)
The median Petroleum Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $181,000 per year as of Q1 2025. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Seattle–WA 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 Petroleum Engineer in Seattle
Entry-level Petroleum Engineers in Seattle with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $138,000 and $181,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $181,000 to $235,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $235,000 to $300,000 or more.
Cost of living in Seattle for Petroleum Engineers
Seattle has a cost of living index of 150 compared to the US national average of 100. Seattle's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Crucially, Washington has no state income tax — giving Seattle-based Petroleum Engineers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Education requirements for Petroleum Engineer
Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering. 15% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.