Engineering and architecture
Petroleum engineer
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.
Median pay
$144,910
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,000
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Petroleum engineer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Petroleum engineer: 58% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
- Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
- Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
- Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
Also called: Completion Engineer · Drilling Engineer · Engineer · Operations Engineer · Petroleum Engineer · Petroleum Production Engineer · Project Production Engineer · Project Reservoir Engineer
Outlook and AI
Petroleum engineers held 18,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 18,800 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Petroleum engineer vs. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Petroleum engineer vs. Chemical engineer
- Petroleum engineer vs. Industrial production manager
- Petroleum engineer vs. Civil engineer
- Petroleum engineer vs. Industrial engineer
- Petroleum engineer vs. Mechanical engineer
- Petroleum engineer vs. Electrical engineer
- Petroleum engineer vs. Environmental engineer