Salary distribution
Where California petroleum engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $97,600 and $178,310, with a median of $147,780.
Petroleum Engineers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $191,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $113,755 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $195,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Petroleum Engineers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| GUNNAR LLLP | RANGING AND INTERCEPT ENGINEER | 2 | $200,000 |
| Sinclair Well Products, LLC. | Drilling Fluids Engineer | 1 | $113,755 |
| Upwing Energy, Inc. | Principal Reservoir Engineer | 1 | $182,458 |
| CRC Services LLC | Engineer Reservoir | 1 | $191,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RANGING AND INTERCEPT ENGINEER at GUNNAR LLLP$200,000BakersfieldWage Level IVDecided Sep 25, 2025I-203-25261-318005
- Drilling Fluids Engineer at Sinclair Well Products, LLC.$113,755CerritosWage Level IIDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25114-897936
- Principal Reservoir Engineer at Upwing Energy, Inc.$182,458BakersfieldWage Level IVDecided Apr 21, 2025I-200-25105-863616
- Engineer Reservoir at CRC Services LLC$191,000Long BeachWage Level IVDecided Mar 3, 2025I-200-25055-720067
- RANGING AND INTERCEPT ENGINEER at GUNNAR LLLP$200,000BAKERSFIELDWage Level IVDecided Aug 26, 2025I-203-25231-251744
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Petroleum Engineers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Petroleum Engineers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Energy and utilities leads with a median of $195,500.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and utilities | GUNNAR LLLP | 4 | $195,500 |
| Professional services | Upwing Energy, Inc. | 1 | $182,458 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.4 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- 02
Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications.
- 03
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- 04
Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- 05
Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- 06
Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
- 07
Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel.
- 08
Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+1.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for petroleum engineers in major California metropolitan areas.
- Sacramento$163,310
- Los Angeles$161,320
- San Francisco$97,610
Compare Petroleum Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Petroleum Engineers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in California is $147,780.
- How does California compare to the national median for Petroleum Engineers?
- The California median is +0.6% versus the BLS national figure of $146,831.
- What is the salary range for Petroleum Engineers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $78,510 and the 90th-percentile at $219,170, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Petroleum Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 1.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Petroleum Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.