# Petroleum Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/petroleum-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2171.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $144,910 (10th percentile $81,440, 90th percentile $253,200)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.0%
- Openings a year: 1,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 73 |
| Investigative (I) | 72 |
| Artistic (A) | 15 |
| Social (S) | 13 |
| Enterprising (E) | 34 |
| Conventional (C) | 55 |

## What you'd do

- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 90/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 87/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Processing Information (importance 80/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)

## 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

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Petroleum Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1425) (CIP 1425, 31 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Tulsa](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-tulsa-3068) | Petroleum Engineering | not reported | $145,353 | not reported |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Petroleum Engineering | $87,445 | $139,867 | $17,738 |
| [Texas Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-tech-university-2710) | Petroleum Engineering | not reported | $139,864 | $14,711 |
| [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus-main-campus-3007) | Petroleum Engineering | $89,188 | $123,416 | not reported |
| [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-school-of-mines-642) | Petroleum Engineering | $107,179 | $116,691 | $21,452 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Petroleum Engineering | $96,207 | $114,686 | $16,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Civil Engineering | $84,461 | $108,548 | $11,634 |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $108,466 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mining-and-geological-engineers-including-mining-safety-engineers): $106,220 median pay
- [Chemical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-engineers): $125,040 median pay
- [Geothermal Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geothermal-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Water/Wastewater Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-wastewater-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.