What Does a Petroleum Engineer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a petroleum engineer do?

Petroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface. The median pay is $144,910 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4-year engineering degree, and employment is projected to grow +2.0% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$144,910
$69.67/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+2.0%
2025–35, slower than average
Openings per year
1,000
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
4-year engineering degree
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
18,500
Employment, 2025

What petroleum engineers do

Petroleum engineers get energy out of the ground. They plan wells, design drilling and completions, model reservoirs, improve production and work on carbon storage and geothermal projects.

A bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering is required. Pay is among the highest in engineering, though the industry is cyclical.

Typical duties

Plan wells
Design drilling programs
Design completions
Model reservoirs
Improve production
Estimate reserves
Manage costs

Work environment and schedule

Petroleum engineers work in offices and at rigs and field sites.

Schedule: Full time, with rotations or on-call for field roles.

A day in the life

7:00 AMReview drilling reports.
8:30 AMCall the rig.
10:00 AMRun a reservoir model.
12:00 PMDesign a frac program.

See a full day in the life of a petroleum engineer →

Petroleum Engineer salary

Half of petroleum engineers earned more than $144,910 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $81,440 for the lowest 10% to $253,200 for the top 10%.

$81,44010th$144,910Median$253,20090th

Full petroleum engineer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a petroleum engineer

Earn a petroleum engineering degree
Do field internships
Join as a field engineer
Specialize
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering is required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a petroleum engineer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Reservoir engineering
Drilling engineering
Completions
Production engineering
Reservoir simulation

People skills

Problem-solving
Teamwork
Decision-making
Communication

All petroleum engineer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Very high pay
Technical challenge
Global opportunities
Carbon storage skills transfer

Cons

Boom-and-bust cycles
Field rotations
Energy transition uncertainty
Remote locations

Certifications and licenses

PE license: Optional.
SPE membership: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Well control certification: IWCF or IADC.
Master’s: Optional.

Career path

Field Engineer: Entry.
Petroleum Engineer: Design.
Senior Engineer: Lead.
Engineering Manager: Lead teams.

Learn the job before day one

Our Petroleum Engineer training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as analyze a well decline curve and review a daily drilling report, safety and how to land your first job.

View Petroleum Engineer training Is this career right for me?

Roustabout

Build, maintain and repair oil and gas sites and equipment.

$46,960
1–3 months

Geoscientist

Study the Earth’s rocks, water and processes to find resources and reduce hazards.

$101,920
4-year degree plus field camp

Chemical Engineer

Design processes that turn raw materials into fuels, medicines, food and chemicals.

$125,040
4-year engineering degree

Mining Engineer

Design safe, efficient mines to extract minerals and metals.

$106,220
4-year engineering degree

Compare: Petroleum Engineer vs. Roustabout · Petroleum Engineer vs. Geoscientist · Petroleum Engineer vs. Chemical Engineer · Petroleum Engineer vs. Mining Engineer

Petroleum Engineer FAQ

Is pay high?

Yes, among the highest in engineering.

Is the industry cyclical?

Yes, jobs rise and fall with prices.

Do skills transfer?

Yes, to carbon storage and geothermal.

How much does a petroleum engineer make?

The median annual wage for petroleum engineers was $144,910 ($69.67 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $81,440 and the highest 10% earned more than $253,200.

How long does it take to become a petroleum engineer?

Most people need about 4-year engineering degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering is required.

Do you need a degree to be a petroleum engineer?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-2171 (Petroleum engineers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Petroleum engineers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Petroleum Engineer