SOC 17-2171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Engineers — Dallas
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX comes to $168,600 a year, ahead of the national median of $144,910 by 16.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX comes to $168,600 a year, ahead of the national median of $144,910 by 16.3%. Pay ranges from under $114,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $253,200 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $131,400 to $221,090.
Employment stands at 910, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Midland records the highest median at $172,070. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 27th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $114,080 | −21.3% |
| 25th | $131,400 | −9.3% |
| Median (50th) | $168,600 | +16.3% |
| 75th | $221,090 | +52.6% |
| 90th | $253,200 | +74.7% |
| Mean | $178,520 | +23.2% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland | $172,070 | 940 | |
| 2 | Houston | $169,870 | 4,770 | |
| 3 | Austin | $168,860 | 150 | |
| 4 | Beaumont | $167,600 | 90 | |
| 5 | Lubbock | $164,480 | 100 | |
| 6 | Corpus Christi | $155,870 | 110 | |
| 7 | Odessa | $135,620 | 220 | |
| 8 | Tyler | $132,530 | 60 | |
| 9 | El Paso | $131,740 | 40 | |
| 10 | San Antonio | $120,460 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Dallas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $168,600 goes as far as $173,635 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$168,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$173,635US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $168,600 a year, 16.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $114,080 to $253,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 910 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Midland, at $172,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in Dallas, TX?
The median annual wage is $168,600, or $81.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $144,910, so pay in Dallas, TX is 16.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Dallas, TX earns more than $253,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $114,080 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Midland, at $172,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 910 jobs in this occupation in Dallas, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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