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Salary Survey for Job: Petroleum Engineer (United States)

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Median Salary by Degree/Major Subject

Job: Petroleum Engineer

Median Salary by Degree/Major Subject - Job: Petroleum Engineer (United States)
Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 25 Nov 2009 | Individuals Reporting: 307
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FAQ: Job: Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum Engineering Salaries with Master's Degree

Petroleum engineers with a Ph.D. in engineering set the bar high among Petroleum Engineering salaries, averaging over $115,000 a year. But why don’t the petroleum engineering salaries for master's degree holders rank very high? Comparing petroleum engineering salaries by degree, the median petroleum engineering salaries with masters degree is lower than petroleum engineering salaries for those with a bachelor's degree. However, this is not a complete indicator of the value of a master's degree for a Petroleum Engineer. If you’re interested in getting your Ph.D., you’ll find that most schools actually require you to have a master's degree for admission into their petroleum engineering program. It's also worth noting that median Petroleum Engineering Salaries for those with a Master's of Science in Petroleum Engineering reach almost $150,000 after 20 years of experience. Without a doubt, petroleum engineering can be a financially rewarding career, and ranks at the top of the list for high engineering salaries. Even without an advanced degree, those with a bachelor's degree can land high starting salaries and then advance to more lucrative petroleum engineering salaries as they gain first-hand experience on the job. At first glance, the petroleum engineering salaries with master's degree data may not look too enticing. But, take a closer look and you'll find that a master's degree is your ticket to a Ph.D. and the highest possible salary within this field.

Jobs and Careers in other Engineering Fields

If you're looking to find more than just petroleum engineering salaries with masters degree, be sure to check out PayScale's data on other engineering salaries, including Mechanical Engineering Salaries, Civil Engineering Salaries, and Electrical Engineering Salaries. Or, to learn about Nuclear Engineering Salaries, read Michael Flagg's Salary Story detailing his experience as a Nuclear Engineer.

 
Job Description

People with the job title Petroleum Engineer typically fall into one of the following PayScale standard occupations.

Devise methods to improve oil and gas well production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice to achieve economical and satisfactory progress.