SOC 17-2171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Engineers — New Mexico
New Mexico · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Petroleum Engineers in New Mexico is $99,900 per year, substantially below the national median of $144,910 — a gap of 31.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Petroleum Engineers in New Mexico is $99,900 per year, substantially below the national median of $144,910 — a gap of 31.1%. Pay ranges from under $76,140 at the tenth percentile to more than $151,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $93,200 to $127,490.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. Among the 16 states with published data for this occupation, New Mexico ranks 14th by median wage. Farmington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $111,570. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 91st of 634 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,140 | −47.5% |
| 25th | $93,200 | −35.7% |
| Median (50th) | $99,900 | −31.1% |
| 75th | $127,490 | −12.0% |
| 90th | $151,750 | +4.7% |
| Mean | $110,040 | −24.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington | $111,570 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $99,900 goes as far as $108,351 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$108,351US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,900 a year, 31.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $76,140 to $151,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 16 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Farmington, at $111,570.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in New Mexico?
The median annual wage is $99,900, or $48.03 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 New Mexico is 31.1% lower. 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 New Mexico earns more than $151,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $76,140 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 Farmington, at $111,570 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in New Mexico. 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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