1

Petroleum Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, in order to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. * Assist engineering and other ...

Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, in order to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. Assist engineering and other ...

Petroleum/Mechanical Engineering degree or higher. * P.E. required and the ability to obtain additional professional registrations in other states. * 7+ years of industrial experience with oil and ...

Petroleum/Mechanical Engineering degree or higher. * P.E. required and the ability to obtain additional professional registrations in other states. * 7+ years of industrial experience with oil and ...

Petroleum Systems Tester II

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$24.19 - $34.87/hr

Petroleum Systems Tester II Job Summary: Perform several duties pertaining to fuel systems integrity testing. Primarily completes petroleum support work orders and jobs at retail, commercial and ...

Petroleum Systems Tester II

Wichita, KS · On-site

$24.19 - $34.87/hr

Petroleum Systems Tester II Job Summary: Perform several duties pertaining to fuel systems integrity testing. Primarily completes petroleum support work orders and jobs at retail, commercial and ...

Petroleum Systems Tester II

Kansas City, MO · On-site

$24.19 - $34.87/hr

Petroleum Systems Tester II Job Summary: Perform several duties pertaining to fuel systems integrity testing. Primarily completes petroleum support work orders and jobs at retail, commercial and ...

Petroleum Systems Tester II

Lincoln, NE · On-site

$24.19 - $34.87/hr

Petroleum Systems Tester II Job Summary: Perform several duties pertaining to fuel systems integrity testing. Primarily completes petroleum support work orders and jobs at retail, commercial and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Petroleum Engineer information

See salary details

$42K

$80K

$136K

How much do petroleum engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for petroleum engineer in the United States is $80,025.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $114,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges petroleum engineers face when working on drilling projects, and how are they addressed?

Petroleum engineers often encounter challenges such as unpredictable geological formations, equipment failures, and environmental regulations when working on drilling projects. To address these issues, they collaborate closely with geologists, drilling crews, and safety specialists to adapt drilling plans, utilize advanced monitoring technology, and ensure compliance with safety and environmental guidelines. Regular communication with multidisciplinary teams and continuous on-site troubleshooting are essential for overcoming these obstacles and ensuring project success.

What is the difference between Petroleum Engineer vs Reservoir Engineer?

AspectPetroleum EngineerReservoir Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or related fieldBachelor's degree in petroleum engineering, reservoir engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentOil and gas extraction sites, officesReservoir simulation labs, field sites, offices
Industry UsageDesigning extraction methods, optimizing productionEstimating reserves, modeling reservoir performance
Common Search IntentPetroleum Engineer vs Reservoir Engineer

Petroleum Engineers focus on designing and implementing methods to extract oil and gas efficiently, while Reservoir Engineers analyze subsurface reservoirs to estimate reserves and optimize recovery. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often work closely in the oil and gas industry, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What Do Petroleum Engineers Do?

Petroleum Engineers design ways to extract materials from Earth to boost energy production. They utilize a variety of methods and technologies to devise ways to gather petroleum, oil, and gas, and determine the most cost efficient method of extracting these materials. Petroleum Engineers travel across the planet to develop oil and gas reserves where no one has drilled before. Petroleum Engineers can follow a few different specialities such as Drilling, Production, and Resevoir Engineer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Petroleum Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Petroleum Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, geology, and mathematics, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Petrel, Eclipse, and reservoir simulation tools, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), are often required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills help professionals excel in interdisciplinary project environments. These competencies are essential for efficiently designing, developing, and optimizing extraction processes in a safe and cost-effective manner.

What do Petroleum Engineers do?

Petroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the earth’s surface. They work with geologists and other specialists to locate reservoirs, evaluate production potential, and determine the best drilling and recovery techniques. Their responsibilities may include overseeing drilling operations, optimizing production, ensuring safety standards, and minimizing environmental impact. Petroleum engineers also use advanced technologies and data analysis to improve extraction efficiency and manage costs. Their work is critical in meeting global energy needs and advancing sustainable practices in the industry.
What cities are hiring for Petroleum Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Petroleum Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Petroleum Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Petroleum Engineer jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Petroleum Engineer jobs? The top employers for Petroleum Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Petroleum Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Petroleum Engineer jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Petroleum Engineer jobs? For Petroleum Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Petroleum Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,025 per year, or $38.5 per hour.
Petroleum Engineer

$46K/yr

Other

Posted 21 days ago


U.S. Department Of The Interior rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

298th of 644 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

The Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) works to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.bsee.gov/Qualifications:Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND/OR (2) Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.
To be eligible for this position, you must meet either A or B below for the series to which you are applying.
Petroleum Engineering Series, 0881:
Individual Occupational Requirements
(1) Basic Educational Requirements:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
  • 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  • 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  • 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  • 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.
-AND-
(2) Specialized Experience In order to qualify for this position, you must meet either A, B, or C for the grade to which you are applying.
GS-05 Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify for the GS-05, all applicants who meet the basic education requirements described in the individual occupational requirements are fully qualified for the GS-5 grade level.
GS-7
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-07, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Assisting with routine engineering assignments; AND
2) Assisting in the maintenance of computer programs and databases utilized in engineering evaluations; AND
3) Assisting with the compilation, analysis, and interpretation of basic engineering data.
Must Meet ALL
-OR
B. Education: You may substitute education (education that is directly related) for experience at the GS-07 level if you have achieved: one year of progressively higher-level graduate level education; Superior Academic Achievement at the baccalaureate level in an engineering program (For more info: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualificationpolicies/#url=e4f); or successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering.
-OR
C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate Combinations of Graduate Education and Professional Experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-7 grade level.
- A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-07.
-OR-
- Applicants with an engineering Bachelor's degree who have appropriate experience as a technician equivalent to grade GS-5 may have such experience credited for grade GS-7 only on a month-for-month basis up to a maximum of 12 months.
A. GS-9 Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-09, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Reviewing and analyzing inspection reports and statistical data for trends in order to identify safety issues that may need closer study; AND
2) Reviewing new applications and modifications to surface and subsea well permits for correctness and adequacy of data submitted.
Must Meet ALL
-OR
B. Education: You may substitute graduate education for experience if you have achieved: a combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional experience that is related to the position; 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree; or a master's or equivalent graduate degree.
-OR
C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education (only successfully completed graduate level education beyond the first year is creditable towards meeting this requirement), and specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level that totals 100% of the requirement for this grade level; or combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate Professional Experience.
Education:Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.
Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Employment Type: OTHER

What U.S. Department Of The Interior employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom