Petroleum Engineers
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.
- O*NET-SOC code
17-2171.00 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$144,910
Employment, U.S.18,060
Median hourly wage$69.67
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $81,440 | $106,270 | $144,910 | $197,920 | $253,200 |
By state (22)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 50 | Not available | 0.20 |
| Alaska | 280 | $206,290 | 7.53 |
| California | 1,060 | $143,590 | 0.50 |
| Colorado | 1,390 | $172,190 | 4.16 |
| Florida | 40 | Not available | 0.04 |
| Kansas | 110 | $115,640 | 0.67 |
| Louisiana | 710 | $139,640 | 3.17 |
| Michigan | 580 | Not available | 1.14 |
| Minnesota | 40 | Not available | 0.12 |
| Montana | $104,060 | ||
| Nebraska | 150 | $100,800 | 1.22 |
| New Mexico | 260 | $99,900 | 2.59 |
| North Dakota | 130 | $132,120 | 2.58 |
| Ohio | 200 | $99,260 | 0.30 |
| Oklahoma | 1,450 | $153,020 | 7.29 |
| Pennsylvania | 600 | $101,880 | 0.85 |
| Tennessee | 70 | Not available | 0.18 |
| Texas | 9,140 | $164,860 | 5.60 |
| Utah | 280 | $172,840 | 1.40 |
| Washington | 190 | $134,800 | 0.45 |
| West Virginia | 380 | $93,360 | 4.68 |
| Wyoming | 280 | Not available | 8.74 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 4 | 0.977 |
| 2 | Materials Engineers | 4 | 0.965 |
| 3 | Industrial Ecologists | 5 | 0.965 |
| 4 | Nuclear Engineers | 4 | 0.964 |
| 5 | Water Resource Specialists | 4 | 0.964 |
| 6 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5 | 0.963 |
| 7 | Hydrologists | 4 | 0.961 |
| 8 | Materials Scientists | 4 | 0.961 |
| 9 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 4 | 0.960 |
| 10 | Microsystems Engineers | 5 | 0.960 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Petroleum Engineers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | Operations Analysis | 2.37 | 0.977 |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | Operations Analysis | 2.25 | 0.959 |
| Electrical Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.50 | 0.958 |
| Validation Engineers | Operations Analysis | 2.25 | 0.957 |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | Operations Analysis | 2.13 | 0.952 |
| Civil Engineers | Operations Analysis | 2.75 | 0.947 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.87 | 0.945 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | Operations Analysis | 1.50 | 0.943 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | Quality Control Analysis | 1.26 | 0.942 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | Management of Financial Resources | 1.00 | 0.941 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Petroleum Engineers, excluding software Petroleum Engineers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| National Instruments LabVIEW | 10 of 20 | 7.4x |
| Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | 9 of 20 | 7.2x |
| PTC Creo Parametric | 8 of 20 | 8.6x |
| HEC-RAS | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
| Minitab | 9 of 20 | 5.9x |
| Debugging software | 5 of 20 | 17.8x |
| Simulation software | 5 of 20 | 17.8x |
| Very high-speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL | 4 of 20 | 30.8x |
| Maplesoft Maple | 5 of 20 | 15.4x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D | 6 of 20 | 9.2x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Science | Essential skill | 3.38 | 4.00 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.25 | 4.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.50 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 4.40 | 5.25 |
| Mathematics | 4.12 | 5.02 |
| Physics | 3.52 | 4.55 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.51 | 4.02 |
| Chemistry | 3.39 | 4.41 |
| Administration and Management | 3.35 | 4.12 |
| Economics and Accounting | 3.20 | 3.48 |
| Administrative | 3.19 | 3.76 |
| English Language | 3.15 | 3.82 |
| Design | 3.14 | 3.72 |
| Law and Government | 3.14 | 3.30 |
| Mechanical | 2.81 | 3.29 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.63 | 3.08 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.37 | 2.18 |
| Education and Training | 2.33 | 3.13 |
| Geography | 2.22 | 3.02 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.17 | 2.33 |
| Communications and Media | 2.17 | 1.98 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.13 | 2.43 |
| Production and Processing | 2.03 | 2.00 |
| Transportation | 2.03 | 2.00 |
| Telecommunications | 2.00 | not rated |
| Biology | 1.79 | 1.70 |
| Foreign Language | 1.69 | not rated |
| Building and Construction | 1.69 | 1.14 |
| Psychology | 1.46 | 1.12 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.18 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.13 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.13 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.05 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.05 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.05 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.00 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Written Expression | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Near Vision | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Originality | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Visualization | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Number Facility | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Memorization | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.12 | 1.50 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Control Precision | 1.75 | 1.25 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Trunk Strength | 1.38 | 0.62 |
| Reaction Time | 1.12 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.12 | not rated |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.12 | not rated |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Manual Dexterity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.00 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
| Stamina | 1.00 | not rated |
| Static Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Autodesk AutoCAD in demand
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Microsoft PowerPoint in demand
- C# hot
- C++ hot
- Eclipse IDE hot
- Google Analytics hot
- Linux hot
- Microsoft Access hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft Project hot
- Microsoft Visio hot
- Microsoft Visual Studio hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Oracle Database hot
- Oracle Java hot
- Python hot
- R hot
- SAP software hot
- SAS hot
- The MathWorks MATLAB hot
- Computer Modelling Group CMG STARS
- DFA Capital Management GEMS
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Finite element analysis FEA software
- GeoGraphix ARIES Portfolio
- IBM Notes
- IHS Petra
- IHS QUE$TOR
All 44
- Landmark Graphics TOW/cs
- Neotec WELLFLO
- Oracle Primavera Systems
- Schlumberger ECLIPSE
- Schlumberger PVTi
- Schlumberger Petrel E&P
- Software development tools
- Structure query language SQL
- TERRASCIENCES TerraStation
- TIBCO Spotfire
- TRC Consultants PHDWin
- Web browser software
- Well Flow Dynamics Wellflow
- eProduction Solutions PanSystem
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | 940 | 66.36 | $172,070 |
| Odessa, TX | 220 | 22.98 | $135,620 |
| Greeley, CO | 300 | 21.42 | $132,240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,770 | 12.50 | $169,870 |
| Anchorage, AK | 200 | 9.93 | $212,240 |
| Longview, TX | 130 | 9.81 | $101,290 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 700 | 8.91 | $176,200 |
| Tulsa, OK | 370 | 6.91 | $130,750 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 320 | 6.11 | $148,390 |
| Lubbock, TX | 100 | 5.18 | $164,480 |