Petroleum Engineer salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Petroleum Engineers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $148,390 a year ($71.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $237,280 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $144,910. Pay here is 6% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $139,640. There are 0.71 petroleum engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $153,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,820 | $35.01 |
| 25th percentile | $121,510 | $58.42 |
| Median | $148,390 | $71.34 |
| 75th percentile | $182,560 | $87.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $237,280 | $114.08 |
| Average (mean) | $153,850 | $73.97 |
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 | $12,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,707.31 |
| Weekly | $2,853.65 |
| Hourly | $71.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $148,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,240 | $52.04 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,970 | $53.35 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $117,990 | $56.73 |
| Industrial Engineer | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Electrical Engineer | $125,120 | $60.16 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,870 | $65.80 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $149,430 | $71.84 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $62,430 | $30.01 |
| Surveyor | $79,230 | $38.09 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Drafters, All Other | $65,870 | $31.67 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for petroleum engineers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $148,390 a year, or $71.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $237,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid petroleum engineers make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of petroleum engineers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $237,280 a year. The top 25% earn $182,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for petroleum engineers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,820 a year, and a quarter of petroleum engineers earn $121,510 or less.
How many petroleum engineers work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 320 petroleum engineers are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.