How to Become a Petroleum Engineer
Design the methods that bring oil and gas out of the ground safely and efficiently, one of engineering's highest-paying fields. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $144,910 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$144,910/yr
Middle half
$106,270 to $197,920
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
1,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Reservoir Analysis
- Drilling Engineering
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Project Management
Helpful certifications
- FE/PE (Professional Engineer)
- SPE membership
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
67/100
Work-life balance
57/100
Stress level
47/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
- Materials Engineer$112,860 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Petroleum Engineer make?
The median pay for a Petroleum Engineer is $144,910 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $106,270 and $197,920 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Petroleum Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Is Petroleum Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Petroleum Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Reservoir Analysis, Drilling Engineering, Mathematics, Critical Thinking, and Project Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).