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.
SOC: 17-2171.00
Common Job Titles
Drilling EngineerEngineerPetroleum EngineerReservoir Engineer
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Petroleum Engineers (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
18,970
Wage Distribution by Percentile
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $78,840 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $228,790 |
| Workers on average earn | $153,560 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Engineering and Technology4.4/5
- Mathematics4.1/5
- Physics3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Chemistry3.4/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
Autodesk AutoCADC#C++Eclipse IDEGoogle AnalyticsLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft Visual StudioMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseOracle JavaPythonRSAP softwareSASThe MathWorks MATLAB
Technology Skills
Computer Modelling Group CMG STARSDFA Capital Management GEMSDassault Systemes CATIAEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareFinite element analysis FEA softwareGeoGraphix ARIES PortfolioIBM NotesIHS Petra
Tools & Equipment
Computer scannersDesktop computersLaptop computersPersonal computersPersonal digital assistants PDA