Petroleum Engineer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Petroleum Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $169,870 a year ($81.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $288,530 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 3% higher than the Texas statewide median of $164,860. There are 1.5 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 12.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $177,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| 25th percentile | $126,640 | $60.89 |
| Median | $169,870 | $81.67 |
| 75th percentile | $225,080 | $108.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $288,530 | $138.72 |
| Average (mean) | $177,780 | $85.47 |
Half of petroleum engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,155.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,077.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,533.46 |
| Weekly | $3,266.73 |
| Hourly | $81.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $169,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Petroleum Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $172,070 | 940 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $168,860 | 150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,600 | 910 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $167,600 | 90 |
| Lubbock, TX | $164,480 | 100 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $155,870 | 110 |
| Odessa, TX | $135,620 | 220 |
| Tyler, TX | $132,530 | 60 |
| El Paso, TX | $131,740 | 40 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $120,460 | 240 |
| Longview, TX | $101,290 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for petroleum engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $206,290 |
| Utah | $172,840 |
| Colorado | $172,190 |
| Texas | $164,860 |
| Oklahoma | $153,020 |
| California | $143,590 |
| Louisiana | $139,640 |
| Washington | $134,800 |
| North Dakota | $132,120 |
| Kansas | $115,640 |
See Petroleum Engineer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,950 | $48.53 |
| Industrial Engineer | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $125,350 | $60.27 |
| Electrical Engineer | $131,070 | $63.02 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,630 | $62.32 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $137,740 | $66.22 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Materials Engineer | $123,250 | $59.26 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $84,160 | $40.46 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $144,120 | $69.29 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2171. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a petroleum engineer make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $169,870 a year, or $81.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $288,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $288,530 a year. The top 25% earn $225,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,990 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $126,640 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 4,770 petroleum engineers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.