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Oil and Gas Producers
ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips
Petroleum Engineers
Petroleum engineers figure out where to drill, how to bring oil and gas out of the ground, and how to keep production flowing as efficiently as possible. The work is heavily analytical and often done with geologists, field crews, and other engineers, but every recommendation carries real cost because one bad call can waste millions in drilling and completion spending.
Also known as Reservoir EngineerDrilling EngineerProduction EngineerCompletion EngineerWell Engineer
Median Salary
$141,280
Mean $153,560
U.S. Workforce
~19K
1.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.3%
19.6K to 19.8K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Petroleum Engineers sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~19K workers, with a median annual pay of $141,280 and roughly 1.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 19.6 K in 2024 to 19.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in petroleum, chemical, mechanical, or civil engineering, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Engineering Intern and can progress toward Lead or Principal Petroleum Engineer. High-value skills usually include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Systems Analysis, paired with soft skills such as Clear communication, Active listening, and Teamwork across disciplines.
Core Responsibilities
- Study drilling, well, and production data to decide where new wells should go and how output could be improved.
- Work with geologists, operators, and other engineers to troubleshoot problems in the field or at the well site.
- Plan drilling programs and methods for getting more oil or gas out of a field.
- Oversee well completion and testing, then review the results to see whether the well is performing as expected.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Study drilling, well, and production data to decide where new wells should go and how output could be improved.
02 Work with geologists, operators, and other engineers to troubleshoot problems in the field or at the well site.
03 Plan drilling programs and methods for getting more oil or gas out of a field.
04 Oversee well completion and testing, then review the results to see whether the well is performing as expected.
05 Turn logs, test results, and field measurements into clear recommendations for the rest of the engineering team.
06 Keep detailed records of drilling activity, production numbers, and well performance for technical and reporting use.
Industries That Hire
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Oilfield Services
SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes
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Integrated Energy Companies
Shell, BP, Equinor
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Independent Exploration and Production
EOG Resources, Devon Energy, Occidental
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Engineering and Energy Consulting
Worley, Wood, Fluor
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a bachelor's-level job, with a mean annual wage of $153,560 and a median of $141,280.
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BLS says no prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the field is accessible right out of college.
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The work is concrete and technical: your analysis can affect where wells are drilled, how they are completed, and how much production a field gets.
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The occupation is specialized, with about 18,970 workers, which can make good technical people stand out quickly.
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There are still about 1.2 thousand annual openings, so new jobs do appear even in a small field.
Challenges
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Growth is very slow, with employment projected to rise only 1.3% from 2024 to 2034, or about 200 jobs.
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The job is tied to oil and gas spending, so low prices or budget cuts can quickly reduce hiring and project activity.
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Remote work is limited because the job depends on field data, well testing, and coordination with crews on site.
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The long-term outlook is under pressure from the energy transition, which can shrink demand in some companies and regions.
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The market is geographically narrow and cyclical, so opportunities are often concentrated in energy hubs and can swing with industry conditions.
Career Progression
Engineering Intern
0-2 years
$60K-$80K
Supports data review, drafting, and field reporting while learning how drilling and production decisions are made.
Petroleum Engineer
2-6 years
$120K-$165K
Handles well planning, production analysis, and day-to-day problem solving on active projects.
Senior Petroleum Engineer THIS ROLE
6-12 years
$165K-$220K
Leads larger projects, reviews field performance, and helps coordinate decisions across geology, drilling, and operations teams.
Lead or Principal Petroleum Engineer
12+ years
$220K-$280K
Sets technical direction, mentors junior engineers, and signs off on complex development and recovery plans.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in petroleum, chemical, mechanical, or civil engineering
This is the main entry point, and 71.61% of workers in the occupation report a bachelor's degree; BLS also says a bachelor's is the typical requirement.
Master's degree in petroleum engineering or reservoir engineering
A smaller group, 5.41%, hold a master's degree, often to specialize in reservoir modeling, production optimization, or research.
Bachelor's degree plus FE/EIT licensure prep and internships
This path is not required, but it can help new graduates build credibility since the role itself requires no formal work experience or on-the-job training.
Key Skills
Technical
Critical Thinking 80%
Reading Comprehension 80%
Systems Analysis 78%
Complex Problem Solving 78%
Systems Evaluation 78%
Petrel, Landmark & Reservoir Modeling Software 77%
Drilling Data Analysis with Excel, SQL & Power BI 77%
Well Testing, Production Surveillance & Simulation Tools 77%
Soft Skills
Clear communicationActive listeningTeamwork across disciplinesCareful decision-makingAttention to detailComfort working under pressure Job Outlook and Trends
+1.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 19.6K to 19.8 K over the next decade, representing 1.3% growth. Around 1.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.