Petroleum Engineers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$61,780
- 25th Percentile — Junior$126,500
- 50th Percentile — Median$143,590
- 75th Percentile — Senior$171,980
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$207,370
Half of Petroleum Engineers in California earn more than $143,590. The top 10% make $207,370 or more, while entry-level workers start around $61,780.
Petroleum Engineers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 7th of 16 states for Petroleum Engineers pay, at $147,940 per year (5.9% below the U.S. average of $157,150).
- 1,060 people work as Petroleum Engineers in California — 5.9% of all U.S. Petroleum Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.50: Petroleum Engineers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,780; the top 10% earn over $207,370.
- Hourly equivalent: $71.12 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $199,700.
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Petroleum Engineers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Petroleum Engineers here earn $147,940 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $147,940 is roughly equivalent to $104,183 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($170,270), Utah ($169,810), Oklahoma ($155,900) are the closest alternatives for Petroleum Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +28.8% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +8.8% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +8.1% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $151,180/yr California +2.2% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California 5.6% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California 7.6% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California 10.5% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $131,090/yr California 11.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Petroleum Engineers salary in California?
The average Petroleum Engineers salary in California is $147,940 per year (median $143,590), which is 5.9% below the national average of $157,150.
How does California rank for Petroleum Engineers pay?
California ranks 7th out of 16 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($199,700/yr).
How much do entry-level Petroleum Engineers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Petroleum Engineers in California earn about $61,780 per year and the 25th percentile is $126,500.
How much do Petroleum Engineers make per hour in California?
About $71.12 per hour, based on the $147,940 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Petroleum Engineers work in California?
BLS counts 1,060 Petroleum Engineers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data