Petroleum Engineers: 18,060 jobs, median pay $144,910 · where the jobs are in the U.S.

18,060

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$144,910

Median pay a year

Middle half: $106,270–$197,920

1,000

Annual openings

10-year change: +2%

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 36 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $169,870 · LCA filings 544,770$169,87054

Midland, TXMedian pay $172,070 · LCA filings 4940$172,0704

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $168,600 · LCA filings 4910$168,6004

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $174,580 · LCA filings 6900$174,5806

Oklahoma City, OKMedian pay $176,200 · LCA filings 0700$176,2000

Tulsa, OKMedian pay $130,750 · LCA filings 0370$130,7500

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $167,000 · LCA filings 1330$167,0001

New Orleans–Metairie, LAMedian pay $148,390 · LCA filings 0320$148,3900

Greeley, COMedian pay $132,240 · LCA filings 0300$132,2400

San Antonio–New Braunfels, TXMedian pay $120,460 · LCA filings 3240$120,4603

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Anchorage, AKEmployment 200 · LCA filings 0$212,2402000

Salt Lake City–Murray, UTEmployment 110 · LCA filings 1$180,2301101

Oklahoma City, OKEmployment 700 · LCA filings 0$176,2007000

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COEmployment 900 · LCA filings 6$174,5809006

Midland, TXEmployment 940 · LCA filings 4$172,0709404

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 37 · Employment 4,77054374,770

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COEmployers with LCA filings 5 · Employment 90065900

Midland, TXEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 94042940

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 91043910

San Antonio–New Braunfels, TXEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 24033240

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $140,234 · Level III $177,403 · Level IV $214,594$103,043$140,234$177,403$214,594

Midland, TXLevel II $145,621 · Level III $183,768 · Level IV $221,936$107,453$145,621$183,768$221,936

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $148,470 · Level III $178,235 · Level IV $207,979$118,726$148,470$178,235$207,979

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $144,726 · Level III $179,566 · Level IV $214,427$109,866$144,726$179,566$214,427

Oklahoma City, OKLevel II $145,059 · Level III $176,821 · Level IV $208,603$113,277$145,059$176,821$208,603

Tulsa, OKLevel II $119,454 · Level III $138,944 · Level IV $158,454$99,944$119,454$138,944$158,454

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $141,482 · Level III $161,450 · Level IV $181,418$121,514$141,482$161,450$181,418

New Orleans–Metairie, LALevel II $123,386 · Level III $153,546 · Level IV $183,706$93,226$123,386$153,546$183,706

Greeley, COLevel II $116,334 · Level III $145,413 · Level IV $174,470$87,277$116,334$145,413$174,470

San Antonio–New Braunfels, TXLevel II $107,141 · Level III $129,688 · Level IV $152,256$84,573$107,141$129,688$152,256

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Petroleum EngineeringCIP 14.25STEM OPT · up to 36 months343STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Petroleum Engineers in every metro area

All 36 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology