Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production.
What the job is
- The work
- Petroleum engineers devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production.
BLS
Petroleum Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Petroleum engineers generally work in offices or at drilling and well sites. Travel may be required to visit these sites or to meet with other engineers, oilfield workers, and customers.
BLS
Petroleum Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Strong math and physics students who want to work on oil and gas fields, drilling sites and energy projects.
- Career cluster
- Energy & Natural Resources
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (petroleum engineers).
- Median pay
- $144,910 a year ($69.67 an hour)
BLS
Petroleum Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 18,500
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +2%, which BLS calls "slower than average"
BLS
Petroleum Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Petroleum engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a related field, such as mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering. Employers also value practical experience, which students sometimes gain through internships.
BLS
Petroleum Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Petroleum engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or a related field such as mechanical, civil or chemical engineering. Employers value internship and co-op experience. No license is needed for entry-level jobs; experienced engineers may earn a PE license.
- License
- Optional (PE)
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Petroleum engineer: bachelor's in petroleum or another engineering field, internships, optional PE
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's in engineering → petroleum engineer · Route 2: Optional: Professional Engineer (PE) license
More careers in Energy & Natural Resources
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.