How much does a Petroleum Engineer make?
Experience
- All years of Experience
- 0-1 Years
- 1-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
- 7-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
- 15+ Years
Industry
- All industries
- Legal
- Aerospace & Defense
- Agriculture
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
- Management & Consulting
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
- Personal Consumer Services
- Education
- Financial Services
- Government & Public Administration
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Media & Communication
- Nonprofit & NGO
- Energy, Mining & Utilities
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail & Wholesale
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation
- Human Resources & Staffing
$120K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Petroleum Engineer is $119,801 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $102,976 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $16,825 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $93K-$156K/yr?
For Petroleum Engineer I
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Petroleum Engineer I?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineer I | $93,840 /yr |
| Petroleum Engineer | $119,801 /yr |
| Senior Petroleum Engineer | $158,923 /yr |
Related Job Titles
For Petroleum Engineer
Some related job titles are Civil Engineer Salaries with median pay of $102,423, Geophysicist Salaries with median pay of $149,013, Petroleum Engineering Intern Salaries with median pay of $88,724, Reservoir Engineer Salaries with median pay of $172,865.
Top Paying Companies
For a Petroleum Engineer in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Petroleum Engineer in United States. Employers include Linn Energy, Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhillips.
Top Paying Companies
For Petroleum Engineer in United States
| 1 | Linn Energy | $186,356 | |
| 2 | Occidental Petroleum | $177,363 | |
| 3 | ConocoPhillips | $176,996 | |
| 4 | Devon Energy | $170,804 | |
| 5 | Chesapeake Energy | $170,651 | |
| 6 | Hess Corporation | $166,406 | |
| 7 | Hilcorp Energy | $163,737 | |
| 8 | Southwestern Energy | $162,001 | |
| 9 | Apache | $161,887 | |
| 10 | Chevron | $160,748 |
For Petroleum Engineer I
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Petroleum Engineer I?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineer I | $93,840 /yr |
| Petroleum Engineer | $119,801 /yr |
| Senior Petroleum Engineer | $158,923 /yr |
What are total pay estimates for a Petroleum Engineer at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$160,748
/ yr
$135,419
/ yr
$170,804
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$140,998
/ yr
$176,996
/ yr
$90,526
/ yr
$101,322
/ yr
$177,363
/ yr
$166,406
/ yr
$78
/ hr
$132,071
/ yr
$170,651
/ yrPetroleum Engineer Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Petroleum Engineer in United States
The top 5 paying industries for a Petroleum Engineer in United States are Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $158,145, Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $105,155, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $103,654, Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $101,720, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $100,110.
- Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$100,110
51% Lower than other industries
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Petroleum Engineer are Linn Energy, Occidental Petroleum, and ConocoPhillips.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Recent Salaries Shared
For petroleum engineer
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/mo
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
$75K | $2K
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/mo
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| <1 year
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
$164K | $90K
Submitted 3 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
Petroleum Engineer pay FAQ
The average salary for a Petroleum Engineer is $119,801 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 987 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Petroleum Engineer employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Petroleum Engineer in United States is $156,178 per year.
The lowest salary for a Petroleum Engineer in United States is $92,574 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Petroleum Engineer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Petroleum Engineer.
Petroleum engineering salaries are high, reflecting the field’s significant barriers to entry. A bachelor’s in engineering degree is considered a minimum qualification, although many firms strongly prefer candidates with internship experience. Once hired, petroleum engineers typically work full time and are paid a salary with full benefits. Candidates with a Master of Engineering degree are typically paid higher than candidates with only a bachelor’s degree. Successful petroleum engineers can earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license that indicates they are ready for more leadership responsibility, or they may choose to transition into a project manager role.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
On average, about 75% of petroleum engineers feel that they are satisfied with their salaries, according to data from anonymous Glassdoor ratings. Having an advanced degree or multiple years of experience may result in an increased ceiling for petroleum engineer salary.
Petroleum engineer salaries vary depending on your experience, level of education, and the area where the job is located. The total pay ranges between $73,439.55 and $197,279.40 with an estimated average of $119,792.21 after eight years of experience following the average career path of a petroleum engineer. Engineers who hold licensure qualify for high-paying supervisory roles and management positions.
If you are looking to increase your earning potential as a petroleum engineer, you may want to consider earning an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering and Natural Gas or a Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering. Alternatively, you can look at earning an Advanced Oil and Gas Processes Engineering Certification. Taking time to learn in-demand skills, including IT Skills, thermodynamics of reservoirs, drilling and exploration, and basic first aid, can increase your earning potential as a petroleum engineer. Some colleges and universities even offer refresher courses in specific petroleum engineer skills. Becoming a licensed engineer also opens the door to higher-paying senior positions.
When negotiating a higher salary as a petroleum engineer, spend time reviewing what is expected of you at work and ensure that you are fulfilling or exceeding those expectations. Make a list of everything you do for the company and show it to your boss during salary negotiations. Review what other petroleum engineers in your area are earning by looking at available petroleum engineer jobs and enter into negotiations with a realistic figure in mind. Knowing what other petroleum engineers are earning can also be useful if you've just started a career and want to make sure that you are earning a fair salary.