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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

17-2171 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.


National estimates for Petroleum Engineers
Industry profile for Petroleum Engineers
Geographic profile for Petroleum Engineers

National estimates for Petroleum Engineers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Petroleum Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
20,390 3.6 % $ 71.44 $ 148,590 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Petroleum Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.18 $ 50.01 $ 65.23 $ 85.09 $ 108.62
Annual Wage (2) $ 77,340 $ 104,020 $ 135,690 $ 176,990 $ 225,920


Industry profile for Petroleum Engineers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Petroleum Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Petroleum Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Petroleum Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 5,720 5.27 $ 78.45 $ 163,170
Support Activities for Mining 4,220 1.51 $ 56.69 $ 117,910
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,060 0.11 $ 84.46 $ 175,690
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,650 0.10 $ 70.09 $ 145,790
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,260 1.17 $ 76.85 $ 159,840

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Petroleum Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 5,720 5.27 $ 78.45 $ 163,170
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 350 2.98 $ 68.51 $ 142,490
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 890 2.71 $ 57.10 $ 118,770
Support Activities for Mining 4,220 1.51 $ 56.69 $ 117,910
Other Pipeline Transportation 130 1.49 $ 57.33 $ 119,240

Top paying industries for Petroleum Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) 60 (7) $ 94.12 $ 195,780
Scientific Research and Development Services 620 0.07 $ 93.54 $ 194,560
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 320 0.09 $ 90.35 $ 187,920
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,060 0.11 $ 84.46 $ 175,690
Oil and Gas Extraction 5,720 5.27 $ 78.45 $ 163,170


Geographic profile for Petroleum Engineers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Petroleum Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Petroleum Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of petroleum engineers by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Petroleum Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 11,870 0.88 6.52 $ 74.66 $ 155,290
California 1,550 0.09 0.65 $ 67.23 $ 139,840
Oklahoma 1,390 0.84 6.22 $ 71.30 $ 148,310
Colorado 970 0.34 2.56 $ 77.97 $ 162,190
Louisiana 730 0.40 2.94 $ 74.95 $ 155,890


Map of location quotient of petroleum engineers by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 320 1.03 7.67 $ 69.78 $ 145,140
Wyoming 260 0.94 6.98 $ 63.11 $ 131,270
Texas 11,870 0.88 6.52 $ 74.66 $ 155,290
Oklahoma 1,390 0.84 6.22 $ 71.30 $ 148,310
New Mexico 380 0.45 3.36 $ 62.91 $ 130,850


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum engineers by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Petroleum Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Jersey 100 0.02 0.17 $ 99.28 $ 206,490
Minnesota 90 0.03 0.22 $ 79.63 $ 165,640
Colorado 970 0.34 2.56 $ 77.97 $ 162,190
Louisiana 730 0.40 2.94 $ 74.95 $ 155,890
Texas 11,870 0.88 6.52 $ 74.66 $ 155,290



Map of employment of petroleum engineers by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Petroleum Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,850 1.84 13.71 $ 77.25 $ 160,670
Midland, TX 1,160 10.10 75.24 $ 72.47 $ 150,740
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,160 0.29 2.17 $ 79.42 $ 165,200
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 750 0.47 3.51 $ 78.95 $ 164,210
Oklahoma City, OK 610 0.92 6.88 $ 77.80 $ 161,830
Austin-Round Rock, TX 570 0.46 3.44 (8) (8)
Bakersfield, CA 550 1.65 12.31 $ 70.58 $ 146,810
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 380 0.73 5.43 $ 73.35 $ 152,570
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 340 0.31 2.32 $ 70.05 $ 145,700
Tulsa, OK 330 0.75 5.56 $ 68.90 $ 143,310


Map of location quotient of petroleum engineers by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Midland, TX 1,160 10.10 75.24 $ 72.47 $ 150,740
Odessa, TX 280 3.72 27.67 $ 70.52 $ 146,690
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,850 1.84 13.71 $ 77.25 $ 160,670
Bakersfield, CA 550 1.65 12.31 $ 70.58 $ 146,810
Farmington, NM 70 1.52 11.29 $ 60.23 $ 125,280
Casper, WY 60 1.47 10.91 $ 66.69 $ 138,720
Victoria, TX 50 1.37 10.17 $ 69.17 $ 143,870
Anchorage, AK 220 1.27 9.46 $ 74.90 $ 155,780
San Angelo, TX 60 1.14 8.50 $ 55.47 $ 115,390
Wichita Falls, TX 60 1.13 8.40 $ 68.83 $ 143,170


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum engineers by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Petroleum Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Baton Rouge, LA 90 0.23 1.73 $ 86.30 $ 179,490
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 70 0.93 6.90 $ 82.44 $ 171,480
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,160 0.29 2.17 $ 79.42 $ 165,200
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 70 0.04 0.28 $ 79.17 $ 164,670
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 750 0.47 3.51 $ 78.95 $ 164,210
Oklahoma City, OK 610 0.92 6.88 $ 77.80 $ 161,830
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,850 1.84 13.71 $ 77.25 $ 160,670
Anchorage, AK 220 1.27 9.46 $ 74.90 $ 155,780
Greeley, CO 120 1.05 7.80 $ 74.59 $ 155,150
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 170 1.07 7.95 $ 73.79 $ 153,480

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Petroleum Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 470 2.40 17.88 $ 60.27 $ 125,360
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 270 1.68 12.52 $ 63.69 $ 132,460
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 230 1.52 11.32 $ 62.46 $ 129,910
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 200 2.03 15.11 $ 56.96 $ 118,470
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 120 1.19 8.87 $ 63.94 $ 133,000

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Petroleum Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 470 2.40 17.88 $ 60.27 $ 125,360
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 200 2.03 15.11 $ 56.96 $ 118,470
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 270 1.68 12.52 $ 63.69 $ 132,460
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 100 1.65 12.29 $ 74.23 $ 154,400
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 230 1.52 11.32 $ 62.46 $ 129,910

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Petroleum Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 100 1.65 12.29 $ 74.23 $ 154,400
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 50 0.45 3.33 $ 71.75 $ 149,250
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 70 0.39 2.88 $ 65.65 $ 136,550
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 120 1.19 8.87 $ 63.94 $ 133,000
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 270 1.68 12.52 $ 63.69 $ 132,460


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024