SOC 17-2171.00

    Petroleum Engineers

    Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs.

    Median pay
    $144,910
    Growth
    +2.0%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    1,000
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $81,440
    Median
    $144,910
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $253,200
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    18,060 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Petroleum engineers design methods to extract oil and gas from the earth and oversee drilling operations. This high-paying engineering career offers a median annual salary of $144,910, with top earners making over $253,200.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What petroleum engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Petroleum engineers focus on the technical aspects of oil and gas extraction. On a daily basis, these professionals analyze geological data, solve complex extraction problems, and work with computers to design drilling equipment and methods. They are responsible for determining when new or modified tools are necessary and providing technical guidance during drilling operations.

    This role suits individuals with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on problem-solving. Success in this field requires strong skills in critical thinking, systems analysis, and active listening. Engineers must apply deep knowledge of engineering, mathematics, physics, and chemistry to evaluate systems and make critical decisions. Because of the high-stakes nature of drilling, workers must demonstrate work styles such as attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and high stress tolerance. They regularly communicate with supervisors, peers, and external organizations to organize, plan, and prioritize extraction projects.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree, which is the standard entry-level education. Most professionals in this field also need several years of related work experience before they are fully prepared for the role. Common college majors that lead to this career include petroleum engineering and civil engineering.

    While not universally mandatory, some states list specific licenses for petroleum engineers. Additionally, professionals can earn voluntary industry credentials to demonstrate their expertise. Examples of these certifications include the Certified Petroleum Journeyman - Level 2 from the National Petroleum Management Association and the Petroleum Engineering Certification offered by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for petroleum engineers is $144,910. Salaries in this field span a wide range, where the lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $81,440, and the highest 10 percent earn more than $253,200.

    There are currently 18,060 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 2 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Despite this modest growth rate, the industry is expected to generate about 1,000 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    73 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    72 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    15 / 100
    Social (S)
    13 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    34 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    55 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Analyzing Data or Information
    90
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    87
    Working with Computers
    86
    Getting Information
    85
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    84
    Processing Information
    80
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    80
    Thinking Creatively
    78
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    78
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    78
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Speaking
    • Systems Analysis
    • Systems Evaluation
    • Writing
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Chemistry
    • Administration and Management
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Administrative
    • English Language
    • Design

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Fluency of Ideas
    • Information Ordering

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Innovation
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Perseverance
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Certification Engineer · Completion Engineer · Completions Engineer · Design Engineer · Drilling Engineer · Engineer · Exploration Engineer · Gas Distribution Engineer · Gas Engineer · Gas Turbine Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to petroleum engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Petroleum Engineers$144,910 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Tulsa logo
      University of Tulsa

      Tulsa, OK · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $145,353
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $87,445
      4 yrs after
      $139,867
      Median debt
      $17,738
    3. 3Texas Tech University logo
      Texas Tech University

      Lubbock, TX · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $139,864
      Median debt
      $14,711
    4. 4University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Main Campus logo
      University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Main Campus

      Norman, OK · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $89,188
      4 yrs after
      $123,416
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Colorado School of Mines logo
      Colorado School of Mines

      Golden, CO · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $107,179
      4 yrs after
      $116,691
      Median debt
      $21,452
    6. 6Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · Petroleum Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $96,207
      4 yrs after
      $114,686
      Median debt
      $16,500
    7. 7University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,461
      4 yrs after
      $108,548
      Median debt
      $11,634
    8. 8
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $108,466
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What petroleum engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
    • Petroleum Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about petroleum engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for petroleum engineers?

    People in this profession are also called completion engineers, drilling engineers, exploration engineers, and gas distribution engineers. Others may simply hold the title of design engineer or certification engineer.

    What are some similar careers in this field?

    Related careers that share similar skills and knowledge include mining and geological engineers, chemical engineers, and geothermal production managers. Other related options are mechanical, industrial, and water/wastewater engineers.

    What subject areas do petroleum engineers need to know?

    These engineers must have a strong foundation in engineering, technology, mathematics, physics, and chemistry. They also benefit from knowing economics, accounting, administration, and computer systems.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.