SOC 17-2171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Engineers — Washington
Washington · 1 metro areas compared
At $134,800, median pay for Petroleum Engineers in Washington tracks the national median of $144,910 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $134,800, median pay for Petroleum Engineers in Washington tracks the national median of $144,910 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $129,510 and $176,740. The lowest tenth earn under $107,690, while the highest tenth earn more than $184,360.
Employment stands at 190, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 16 states with published data for this occupation, Washington ranks 8th by median wage. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $134,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 68th of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $107,690 | −25.7% |
| 25th | $129,510 | −10.6% |
| Median (50th) | $134,800 | −7.0% |
| 75th | $176,740 | +22.0% |
| 90th | $184,360 | +27.2% |
| Mean | $149,490 | +3.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $134,800 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $134,800 buys what $125,981 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$134,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$125,981US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $134,800 a year, 7.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $107,690 to $184,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 190 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 16 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $134,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in Washington?
The median annual wage is $134,800, or $64.81 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 Washington is 7.0% 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 Washington earns more than $184,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $107,690 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 Seattle, at $134,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 190 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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