Weigh recovery options in a model
Compare ways of getting oil out in a computer model of the reservoir to see which recovers most.
Career profile
Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers plan ways to bring oil and natural gas up from rock underground.
Geology, fluid flow and engineering design meet in one problem: connecting what lies deep underground to decisions made at the surface.
A day in the life
Choose how a well gets drilled
In drilling jobs, you pick the techniques and equipment that set how a well gets drilled.
Figure out why output fell
Match production history against well tests to see why output fell, then discuss fixes with engineers and technicians.
Decide if a well pays off
Weigh expected production against the costs, then write a report saying what you recommend and why.
Quick facts
Bachelor's degree
United States
$144,910/year
United States · May 2025
2% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Bachelor's degreeThe typical education for entering petroleum engineering.
Pay
$144,910/yearNational median for petroleum engineers, equivalent to $69.67 an hour.
Outlook
2% growthEmployment is projected to grow slowly, with about 1,000 openings a year on average.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy using physics and geology to explain something you cannot see directly.
- You like checking calculations and explaining what they mean to other people.
Things to weigh
- Site assignments can mean extended shifts and long stretches away from home.
Where AI may help
Some drilling systems interpret measurements underground and adjust the drill's direction automatically, reducing repeated steering commands.
What people still lead
Engineers still choose recovery plans and weigh costs when recommending changes.
What we can’t predict yet
How much steering and monitoring will shift to automation across different wells remains unsettled; a system handling one drilling task does not settle the whole well plan.
Pay in context
Earnings
The national pay range is wide. Use it to understand the occupation, not to predict your first offer.
The middle of the range
The median was $144,910 a year, or $69.67 an hour. Half of petroleum engineers earned more and half earned less.
The national spread
The 10th-percentile wage was $81,440 and the 90th-percentile wage was $253,200 annually. These mark the lower and upper ends of the middle 80%, not beginner and senior salaries.
Openings beyond new jobs
Employment is projected to grow 2% over the decade. About 1,000 annual openings include replacing people who leave the occupation, as well as growth.
Getting started
Study petroleum engineering
- What the route involves
- Study mathematics, physics, geology and engineering design, with a focus on extracting underground fluids.
- What it can lead to
- This is the degree route most directly aligned with petroleum engineering entry roles.
Enter through a related engineering degree
- What the route involves
- Complete a bachelor's degree in mechanical, civil or chemical engineering.
- What it can lead to
- These related degrees can also prepare you for petroleum engineering jobs.
A bachelor's degree is the usual starting point. Internships can add practical experience before graduation.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the well records and calculation methods your team uses.
Build judgment
Take on recovery comparisons and explain why one plan is preferable.
Lead a team
With experience, you may move into managing engineers and technicians.
Where you can work
Engineering offices
Spend more of your day with reservoir models and production records, comparing plans with other engineers. Site visits may still be part of the job.
- Office
- Indoors
Drilling and well sites
Work closer to operations and oilfield crews. Assignments may take you offshore or to remote areas, with extended shifts during troubleshooting.
- Field work
- Travel
- Shift work
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make two fictional five-year oil-production forecasts in a spreadsheet: one starts high and declines quickly; the other starts lower and declines slowly. Compare total output, then change one assumption. Notice whether you enjoy explaining why the preferred plan changes.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 17-2171.00 — Petroleum Engineers. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Petroleum Engineers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — May 2025 national estimates. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections — Table 1.2, 2025–2035. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- The University of Texas at Austin. Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- SLB. Schlumberger Introduces Autonomous Directional Drilling. Accessed 2026-10-10.