SOC 17-2171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Engineers — North Dakota
North Dakota
In North Dakota the median wage is $132,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In North Dakota the median wage is $132,120. That is 8.8% lower than the national median of $144,910. Pay ranges from under $82,530 at the tenth percentile to more than $170,040 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $98,510 to $158,280.
Employment stands at 130, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. North Dakota ranks number 9th out of 16 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 556 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 26th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,530 | −43.0% |
| 25th | $98,510 | −32.0% |
| Median (50th) | $132,120 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $158,280 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $170,040 | +17.3% |
| Mean | $130,910 | −9.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Dakota run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $132,120 goes as far as $148,449 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$132,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$148,449US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $132,120 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $82,530 to $170,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 9th of 16 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in North Dakota?
The median annual wage is $132,120, or $63.52 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 North Dakota is 8.8% 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 North Dakota earns more than $170,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $82,530 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in North Dakota. 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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