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State comparison · 2025

Petroleum Engineers salary: Alaska vs California

Occupation

Petroleum Engineers in Alaska earn a median of $206,290. In California, $143,590. After cost-of-living, the gap is 55.3% — not 43.7%.

Nominal pay gap
+43.7%
Alaska vs California
COL-adjusted gap
+55.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

Alaska

Petroleum Engineers

Median
$206,290
p25
$174,050
p75
$219,480
p10
$129,150
p90
$277,360
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
102.4
Hiring velocity (180d)
+100%
See full breakdown for Alaska

California

Petroleum Engineers

Median
$143,590
p25
$126,500
p75
$171,980
p10
$61,780
p90
$207,370
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
110.7
Hiring velocity (180d)
+300%
See full breakdown for California

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.