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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.
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) |
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 |
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022