Develop methods to extract oil and gas from below the Earth's surface. Median salary in Worcester: $162K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Worcester, Massachusetts. 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.
Petroleum Engineers in Worcester earn approximately 12% higher than the US national median for this role — a $17,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Worcester's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Worcester's cost-of-living index (120), the median Petroleum Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $135,000 in a US-average-cost city. That's $10,000 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Only 15% of Petroleum Engineer positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Worcester 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 $170K by 2030.
Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median Petroleum Engineer salary in Worcester, MA is $162,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Worcester–MA 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 Petroleum Engineers in Worcester with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $123,000 and $162,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $162,000 to $211,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $211,000 to $269,000 or more.
Worcester has a cost of living index of 120 compared to the US national average of 100. Worcester's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Massachusetts has a 5% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering. 15% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.