Petroleum Engineers pay in California
In California, the median pay for petroleum engineers is $69.03 an hour ($143,590 a year). About 1,060 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($144,910). California ranks 6th of 16 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for petroleum engineers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $29.70 | $61,780 |
| 25% of workers | $60.82 | $126,500 |
| Half of workers (median) | $69.03 | $143,590 |
| 75% of workers | $82.68 | $171,980 |
| 90% of workers | $99.70 | $207,370 |
Petroleum Engineers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $167,000 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $166,570 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $161,050 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $147,440 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $143,590 | 0 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for petroleum engineers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 1,000 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineers | $122,500 |
| Industrial Engineers | $124,600 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $130,900 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 |
| Electrical Engineers | $144,040 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $185,180 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $157,620 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.