Salary distribution
Where Colorado petroleum engineers fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Petroleum Engineers in Colorado: 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: $146,500. 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 I — entry | 2 | $103,523 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $162,595 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $194,834 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Petroleum Engineers in Colorado. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Energy Services LLC | LPI Operations Engineer | 1 | $102,045 |
| Fervo Energy Company | Reservoir Engineering Specialist | 1 | $146,500 |
| Koloma, Inc. | Sr. Reservoir Engineer | 1 | $194,834 |
| Evergreen Natural Resources | Production Engineer | 1 | $105,000 |
| NITEC LLC | Reservoir Simulation Engineer | 1 | $178,690 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- LPI Operations Engineer at Liberty Energy Services LLC$102,045DenverWage Level IDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-041118
- Reservoir Engineering Specialist at Fervo Energy Company$146,500GoldenWage Level IIDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-040088
- Sr. Reservoir Engineer at Koloma, Inc.$194,834DenverWage Level IVDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-921617
- Production Engineer at Evergreen Natural Resources$105,000DenverWage Level IDecided Apr 9, 2025I-200-25092-823131
- Reservoir Simulation Engineer at NITEC LLC$178,690DenverWage Level IIDecided Feb 18, 2025I-200-25041-681507
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 Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.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 Colorado
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 Colorado, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Energy and utilities leads with a median of $105,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and utilities | Liberty Energy Services LLC | 3 | $105,000 |
| Professional services | Koloma, Inc. | 2 | $186,762 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Colorado 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 Colorado
Metro-level salary data for petroleum engineers in major Colorado metropolitan areas.
- Denver$168,740
Compare Petroleum Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Petroleum Engineers in Colorado?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in Colorado is $167,540.
- How does Colorado compare to the national median for Petroleum Engineers?
- The Colorado median is +14.1% versus the BLS national figure of $146,831.
- 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.