Petroleum Engineer salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Petroleum Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $167,000 a year ($80.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $127,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,230 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 16% higher than the California statewide median of $143,590. There are 0.05 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $161,650, close to the median.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,610 | $61.35 |
| 25th percentile | $133,050 | $63.97 |
| Median | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| 75th percentile | $178,870 | $86.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,230 | $99.15 |
| Average (mean) | $161,650 | $77.72 |
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 | $13,916.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,958.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,423.08 |
| Weekly | $3,211.54 |
| Hourly | $80.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $167,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $166,570 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $161,050 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $147,440 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $143,590 | n/a |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,640 | $52.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $113,040 | $54.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $139,780 | $67.20 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,060 | $60.13 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,280 | $78.50 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,530 | $67.56 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $158,530 | $76.22 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,240 | $61.65 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Chemical Engineer | $134,210 | $64.52 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $144,230 | $69.34 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $167,000 a year, or $80.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $127,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $206,230 a year. The top 25% earn $178,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $127,610 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $133,050 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 330 petroleum engineers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.