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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
22,100 4.2 % $ 70.06 $ 145,720 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Petroleum Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.69 $ 48.50 $ 62.91 $ 80.65 (5)
Annual Wage (2) $ 78,390 $ 100,880 $ 130,850 $ 167,750 (5)


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 5,330 5.00 $ 75.92 $ 157,900
Management of Companies and Enterprises 4,920 0.19 $ 82.44 $ 171,470
Support Activities for Mining 3,920 1.85 $ 59.73 $ 124,250
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,810 0.12 $ 64.46 $ 134,080
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,360 1.31 $ 63.81 $ 132,720

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 5,330 5.00 $ 75.92 $ 157,900
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 420 3.63 $ 72.53 $ 150,860
Support Activities for Mining 3,920 1.85 $ 59.73 $ 124,250
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 550 1.83 $ 61.21 $ 127,320
Other Pipeline Transportation 110 1.32 $ 60.04 $ 124,870

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) 70 (7) $ 110.96 $ 230,810
Scientific Research and Development Services 530 0.07 $ 92.56 $ 192,520
Management of Companies and Enterprises 4,920 0.19 $ 82.44 $ 171,470
Oil and Gas Extraction 5,330 5.00 $ 75.92 $ 157,900
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 420 3.63 $ 72.53 $ 150,860


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 2021


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 10,900 0.89 5.68 $ 72.80 $ 151,420
California 2,940 0.18 1.13 $ 76.92 $ 160,000
Oklahoma 1,910 1.23 7.81 $ 68.91 $ 143,330
Colorado 1,330 0.51 3.23 $ 67.42 $ 140,240
Louisiana 1,160 0.65 4.13 $ 68.21 $ 141,880


Map of location quotient of petroleum engineers by state, May 2021


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)
Oklahoma 1,910 1.23 7.81 $ 68.91 $ 143,330
Wyoming 320 1.21 7.74 $ 58.97 $ 122,650
Alaska 350 1.19 7.61 $ 81.77 $ 170,080
Texas 10,900 0.89 5.68 $ 72.80 $ 151,420
North Dakota 270 0.68 4.34 $ 51.58 $ 107,280


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum engineers by state, May 2021


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 180 0.05 0.30 $ 100.21 $ 208,440
Alaska 350 1.19 7.61 $ 81.77 $ 170,080
California 2,940 0.18 1.13 $ 76.92 $ 160,000
Texas 10,900 0.89 5.68 $ 72.80 $ 151,420
Florida 30 0.00 0.03 $ 70.88 $ 147,420



Map of employment of petroleum engineers by area, May 2021


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 2.02 12.88 $ 76.82 $ 159,790
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,290 0.36 2.30 $ 76.06 $ 158,210
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 920 0.63 3.99 $ 70.31 $ 146,250
Oklahoma City, OK 820 1.35 8.59 $ 70.18 $ 145,970
Bakersfield, CA 690 2.22 14.17 $ 66.50 $ 138,320
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 660 0.12 0.73 $ 68.61 $ 142,700
Midland, TX 620 6.55 41.74 $ 65.88 $ 137,040
Austin-Round Rock, TX 610 0.57 3.64 $ 80.14 $ 166,680
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 600 1.18 7.51 $ 70.66 $ 146,970
Tulsa, OK 560 1.33 8.49 $ 72.79 $ 151,390


Map of location quotient of petroleum engineers by area, May 2021


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 620 6.55 41.74 $ 65.88 $ 137,040
Odessa, TX 200 2.94 18.77 $ 61.87 $ 128,690
Casper, WY 90 2.37 15.09 $ 60.66 $ 126,170
Bakersfield, CA 690 2.22 14.17 $ 66.50 $ 138,320
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,850 2.02 12.88 $ 76.82 $ 159,790
Lake Charles, LA 150 1.64 10.46 $ 59.87 $ 124,520
Anchorage, AK 250 1.52 9.70 $ 81.56 $ 169,650
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 110 1.42 9.08 $ 70.78 $ 147,220
Victoria, TX 50 1.41 9.00 $ 58.82 $ 122,350
Oklahoma City, OK 820 1.35 8.59 $ 70.18 $ 145,970


Map of annual mean wages of petroleum engineers by area, May 2021


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)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 150 0.02 0.11 $ 103.22 $ 214,700
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 280 0.95 6.08 $ 84.42 $ 175,590
Anchorage, AK 250 1.52 9.70 $ 81.56 $ 169,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 370 0.16 1.04 $ 80.87 $ 168,210
Austin-Round Rock, TX 610 0.57 3.64 $ 80.14 $ 166,680
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 120 0.13 0.80 $ 80.07 $ 166,540
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,850 2.02 12.88 $ 76.82 $ 159,790
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,290 0.36 2.30 $ 76.06 $ 158,210
Baton Rouge, LA 70 0.20 1.27 $ 73.63 $ 153,160
Tulsa, OK 560 1.33 8.49 $ 72.79 $ 151,390

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 420 2.26 14.44 $ 59.64 $ 124,040
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 230 2.18 13.93 $ 51.08 $ 106,240
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 220 1.58 10.08 $ 62.74 $ 130,490
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 200 2.15 13.73 $ 54.42 $ 113,180
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 170 1.79 11.43 $ 63.88 $ 132,860

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 420 2.26 14.44 $ 59.64 $ 124,040
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 230 2.18 13.93 $ 51.08 $ 106,240
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 200 2.15 13.73 $ 54.42 $ 113,180
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 120 2.02 12.87 $ 74.70 $ 155,370
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 170 1.79 11.43 $ 63.88 $ 132,860

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)
Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 40 0.28 1.78 $ 90.28 $ 187,780
Alaska nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 83.64 $ 173,970
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 40 0.39 2.46 $ 80.99 $ 168,470
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 120 2.02 12.87 $ 74.70 $ 155,370
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 80 0.66 4.24 $ 70.67 $ 147,000


About May 2021 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.

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.

(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022