Petroleum Engineers in Texas
Considering working as a Petroleum Engineers in Texas? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Petroleum Engineers Make in Texas?
The petroleum engineers working in Texas, wages run about $153,200 per year (or roughly $73.65/hour).Pay can range from $83,750 at the 10th percentile to $232,340 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| 25th percentile | $119,680 | $57.54 |
| Median (50th) | $153,200 | $73.65 |
| 75th percentile | $202,550 | $97.38 |
| 90th percentile | $232,340 | $111.70 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Texas nationwide is 6.25, suggesting that petroleum engineers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, petroleum engineers earn a median of $137,336 per year ($66.03/hour), higher than the Texas median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 382,293 petroleum engineers in the U.S.. In Texas alone, around 10,640 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 190 petroleum engineers.
Top Texas Metros for Petroleum Engineers
The largest metro-area employers of petroleum engineers in Texas.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,080 | $159,990 |
| Midland, TX | 1,180 | $165,880 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,100 | $154,490 |
| Odessa, TX | 310 | $134,280 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 260 | $184,250 |
| Longview, TX | 180 | $110,310 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 180 | $122,980 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 160 | $167,090 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 160 | $133,690 |
| Lubbock, TX | 160 | $143,120 |
| Tyler, TX | 70 | $106,990 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 60 | $160,890 |
| Amarillo, TX | 50 | $199,990 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 40 | $114,810 |
| El Paso, TX | 40 | $127,480 |
Top States for Petroleum Engineers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most petroleum engineers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 10,640 |
| Oklahoma | 1,290 |
| California | 1,190 |
| Colorado | 1,140 |
| Louisiana | 920 |
| Pennsylvania | 470 |
| New Mexico | 390 |
| Utah | 380 |
| Wyoming | 320 |
| Alaska | 310 |
| Montana | 200 |
| North Dakota | 190 |
| Washington | 170 |
| Ohio | 170 |
| West Virginia | 160 |
| Kansas | 160 |
| Alabama | 140 |
| Michigan | 80 |
| Nebraska | 70 |
| Minnesota | 60 |
Highest-Paying States for Petroleum Engineers
These states pay the most for petroleum engineers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $200,750 |
| Colorado | $167,540 |
| Utah | $166,580 |
| Tennessee | $164,240 |
| Texas | $153,200 |
| Wyoming | $152,770 |
| California | $147,780 |
| Oklahoma | $142,470 |
| New Jersey | $140,800 |
| Louisiana | $134,630 |
Skills
Top petroleum engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for petroleum engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, petroleum engineers typically:
- 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.
- Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
- Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
- Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
- Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Processing Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Thinking Creatively
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, C#, C++ In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Civil Engineering
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to petroleum engineers include:
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
Also Known As
Certification Engineer, Completion Engineer, Completions Engineer, Design Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Engineer, Exploration Engineer, Gas Distribution Engineer, Gas Engineer, Gas Turbine Engineer, Logging Engineer, Mining and Oil Field Equipment Design Engineer, Mining and Oil Field Equipment Test Engineer, Mining and Oil Well Equipment Research Engineer, Mud Engineer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-2171.00
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