Petroleum Engineers

Occupation Title: Petroleum Engineers

Description: Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 17-2171

Sample Job Titles: Reservoir Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Petroleum Production Engineer, Engineer, Production Engineer, Operations Engineer, Completion Engineer, Completions Engineer, Drilling Manager

Salary Chart Petroleum Engineers

Estimated Total Employment*
2010: 28,210
2011: 30,880
2012: 36,410
2013: 34,910
2014: 33,740

Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Projected Job Openings (2012-2022): 19,600
Projected Growth (2012-2022): 22% or higher
(total 10 year projection, not annual)

Data Source:
O*NET Online

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics program does not include self-employed workers in employment estimates. O*NET and other BLS programs do include self-employed workers.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. REC-0439914 and DRL-0910041 (Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education in Geography).

Suggested citation: Association of American Geographers, Jobs & Careers Website, Salary Data and Trends, http://www.aag.org/cs/salary_data_and_trends/salary_data_and_trends_overview (accessed mm//dd/yyyy).