Careers · Petroleum Engineers · California
Petroleum Engineers in California
Petroleum engineers develop and improve methods for extracting oil and gas from the earth. They design drilling equipment, analyze production data, and solve technical problems at extraction sites In California the median pay is $143,590 a year, 1% below the national median of $144,910.
$143,590median pay in California, per year
$126,500–$171,980middle half earn
1,060employed in California
$144,910U.S. median, for comparison
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against petroleum engineers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against petroleum engineers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
What it takes
Preparation: Considerable preparation (most need a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience). Most hold a bachelor’s degree.
Skills that matter most
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems Analysis
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyMathematics (knowledge)PhysicsComputers and ElectronicsChemistryAdministration and Management
Full profile, interests that fit, certifications and training: Petroleum Engineers.
Licenses and training in California
Petroleum Engineers pay in other states
Alaska · $206,290Utah · $172,840Colorado · $172,190Texas · $164,860Oklahoma · $153,020Louisiana · $139,640Washington · $134,800North Dakota · $132,120Kansas · $115,640Montana · $104,060
Related occupations
Aerospace EngineersAgricultural EngineersBioengineers and Biomedical EngineersChemical EngineersCivil EngineersTransportation EngineersWater/Wastewater EngineersComputer Hardware Engineers
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against petroleum engineers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against petroleum engineers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 17-2171.00. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California, annual.