Petroleum Engineer salary
From 164 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 17-2171: Petroleum Engineers
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 35% of Petroleum Engineer filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Chevron. 13 filings (8% of the total), median $163,176.
- Median up 15% since FY2020. From $125,000 in FY2020 to $143,500 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Petroleum Engineer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 164 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Petroleum Engineer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 17-2171, Petroleum Engineers). The median base salary is $140,250, 14% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $108,600 and $176,694. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 35% of filings. Houston, TX has the most filings (106), and Chevron is the employer that files the most (13).
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Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Petroleum Engineer jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Petroleum Engineer
Employers with the most Petroleum Engineer filings. Bar: share of all Petroleum Engineer filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 32% of filings
Mid-level · 35% of filings
Senior · 12% of filings
Expert · 21% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $103,022 | 51 |
| Level II · Qualified | $140,800 | 55 |
| Level III · Experienced | $171,000 | 19 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $204,300 | 33 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Petroleum Engineer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 1 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $146,800 | 106 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Petroleum Engineer does
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.
Typical 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.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Petroleum Engineers (17-2171.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Petroleum Engineers), the median annual wage was $144,910 in May 2025, with 18,060 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $140,250, 3% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $95,917 | $81,440 |
| 25th percentile | $108,600 | $106,270 |
| Median | $140,250 | $144,910 |
| 75th percentile | $176,694 | $197,920 |
| 90th percentile | $206,169 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $95,917 |
| 25th | $108,600 |
| 50th (median) | $140,250 |
| 75th | $176,694 |
| 90th | $206,169 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $102,118 | $149,994 | 179 |
| FY2021 | $126,000 | $106,288 | $159,298 | 120 |
| FY2022 | $133,674 | $109,403 | $161,800 | 104 |
| FY2023 | $132,000 | $110,000 | $162,800 | 78 |
| FY2024 | $122,450 | $102,606 | $162,384 | 92 |
| FY2025 | $135,138 | $107,400 | $171,000 | 90 |
| FY2026 | $143,500 | $111,769 | $183,550 | 74 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Petroleum Engineer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Petroleum Engineer jobs is $140,250 (164 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $108,600 and $176,694.
What does an entry-level Petroleum Engineer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $103,022. Level I accounts for 32% of Petroleum Engineer filings.
Do H-1B Petroleum Engineers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($140,250) is 3% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($144,910, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.