Career comparison
Mining Engineer vs. Petroleum Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Petroleum engineers earn more at the median ($144,910 vs. $106,220), while mining engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Mining engineers design safe, efficient mines to extract minerals and metals. Petroleum engineers design ways to extract oil and gas safely and efficiently.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Mining Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $106,220 ($51.07/hr) | $144,910 ($69.67/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,490 – $169,990 | $81,440 – $253,200 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.8% (about as fast as average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 1,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | PE license | PE license |
| Work setting | Mining engineers work at mine sites and in offices, often in remote areas.. | Petroleum engineers work in offices and at rigs and field sites.. |
What each job does
Mining Engineer
- Design mines
- Plan production
- Design ventilation
- Plan ground support
- Estimate costs
Petroleum Engineer
- Plan wells
- Design drilling programs
- Design completions
- Model reservoirs
- Improve production
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, travel, and high responsibility. Both are part of the energy & utilities field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose mining engineer if…
- I like geology and engineering
- I don’t mind remote sites
- I care about safety
Choose petroleum engineer if…
- I like math and geology
- I want very high pay
- I can handle cycles
Still torn? Take the Mining Engineer fit quiz and the Petroleum Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, mining engineer or petroleum engineer?
Petroleum Engineers earn more at the median: $144,910 versus $106,220 for mining engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mining Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than petroleum engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mining engineers to grow +3.8% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for petroleum engineers.