State comparison · 2025
Petroleum Engineers salary: Colorado vs North Dakota
Petroleum Engineers in Colorado earn a median of $172,190. In North Dakota, $132,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 12.5% — not 30.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+30.3%
Colorado vs North Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+12.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Colorado
Petroleum Engineers
- Median
- $172,190
- p25
- $112,070
- p75
- $214,220
- p10
- $92,590
- p90
- $264,960
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 103.1
North Dakota
Petroleum Engineers
- Median
- $132,120
- p25
- $98,510
- p75
- $158,280
- p10
- $82,530
- p90
- $170,040
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.0
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.