Salary distribution
Where Texas petroleum engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $119,680 and $202,550, with a median of $153,200.
Petroleum Engineers in Texas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 77 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $140,800. 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 | 24 | $106,300 |
| Level II — qualified | 25 | $144,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $171,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 12 | $204,875 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Petroleum Engineers in Texas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| EOG Resources, Inc. | Engineer I | 5 | $108,600 |
| ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company | Reservoir Engineer | 4 | $144,000 |
| Occidental Petroleum Corporation | Reservoir Management Team Leader | 4 | $172,000 |
| Liberty Energy Services LLC | Wireline Operations Integrity Manager | 3 | $171,000 |
| Gladiator Energy LLC | Coiled Tubing Engineer | 3 | $112,500 |
| Chevron USA Inc. | Reservoir Engineer | 3 | $148,709 |
| Chevron Corporation | Geomechanics specialist | 2 | $163,400 |
| University of North Dakota | Principal Reservoir Engineer | 2 | $108,607 |
| Bandera Operating Corporation | Petroleum Engineer | 2 | $170,000 |
| NDT Global LLC | Data Analyst Level II | 2 | $89,442 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Geomechanics specialist at Chevron Corporation$158,000HoustonDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491119
- Reservoir Engineer at ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company$144,000SpringDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-417231
- Principal Reservoir Engineer at University of North Dakota$135,200KatyDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-381605
- Research Associate at The University of Texas at Austin$76,565AustinDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-345400
- Reservoir Management Team Leader at Occidental Petroleum Corporation$265,900The WoodlandsDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-343053
- Petroleum Engineer at Bandera Operating Corporation$170,000HoustonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-280266
- Completion Engineer at The Global Edge Consultants LLC$195,000The WoodlandsWage Level IVDecided Sep 5, 2025I-203-25240-272876
- Petroleum Engineer at Bandera Operating Corporation$170,000HoustonWage Level IDecided Sep 2, 2025I-200-25237-264176
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 Texas
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 specialties in Texas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 34 certified offers. The most common variant is Reservoir Engineer at a median of $144,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir Engineer | University of North Dakota | 13 | $144,000 |
| Petroleum Engineer | Bandera Operating Corporation | 13 | $135,075 |
| Engineer | EOG Resources, Inc. | 5 | $108,600 |
| Coiled Tubing Engineer | Gladiator Energy LLC | 3 | $112,500 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Petroleum Engineers in Texas, by industry
Median offered wage across 77 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Energy and utilities leads with a median of $147,155.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and utilities | EOG Resources, Inc. | 52 | $147,155 |
| Professional services | NDT Global LLC | 11 | $135,200 |
| Technology and software | ResFrac Corporation | 6 | $104,036 |
| Education | University of North Dakota | 3 | $82,014 |
| Manufacturing | Tenaris Global Services USA Corporation | 2 | $155,636 |
| Retail and wholesale | Tachyus Corporation | 2 | $127,100 |
| Finance and insurance | Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC | 1 | $124,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Texas 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 Texas
Metro-level salary data for petroleum engineers in major Texas metropolitan areas.
- Austin$184,250
- Houston$159,990
- Dallas$154,490
- San Antonio$122,980
Compare Petroleum Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Petroleum Engineers in Texas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in Texas is $153,200.
- How does Texas compare to the national median for Petroleum Engineers?
- The Texas median is +4.3% versus the BLS national figure of $146,831.
- What is the salary range for Petroleum Engineers in Texas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $83,750 and the 90th-percentile at $232,340, 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.