Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Anchorage, AK is $212,240/year ($102.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $135K at the entry level to $277K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $201,328 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,376/month, or 10.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $212K get you in Anchorage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Anchorage’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About petroleum engineers
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What this looks like in Anchorage
Anchorage sits well above the national pay line for petroleum engineers, local pay runs about 46% higher than the U.S. median of $145K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,376/month, 10.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Anchorage offers a genuinely strong financial position for petroleum engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Anchorage, AK
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $135K. Mid-career wages sit at $212K. Top earners bring in $277K or more, a $142K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Petroleum Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $206K | +42% | 280 |
| Utah | $173K | +19% | 280 |
| Colorado | $172K | +19% | 1,390 |
| Texas | $165K | +14% | 9,140 |
| Oklahoma | $153K | +6% | 1,450 |
| California | $144K | -1% | 1,060 |
| Louisiana | $140K | -4% | 710 |
| Washington | $135K | -7% | 190 |
| North Dakota | $132K | -9% | 130 |
| Kansas | $116K | -20% | 110 |
| Montana | $104K | -28% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $102K | -30% | 600 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -30% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $100K | -31% | 260 |
| Ohio | $99K | -32% | 200 |
| West Virginia | $93K | -36% | 380 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track petroleum engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Anchorage numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Anchorage?
Yes — at the median salary of $212K, rent takes 10.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,376/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in Anchorage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $135K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,122/month. At HUD’s $1,376/month FMR, rent would take 17% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum engineer a high-paying job in Anchorage?
Local pay is 46% above the national median — $212K here vs. $145K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Anchorage compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
Anchorage pays $212K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s +46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $201K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum engineers make in Anchorage, AK?
The median is $212,240 a year, that works out to about $102 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $135,370, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $277,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $212K enough to live in Anchorage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,162/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,376/month, which eats 10.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a petroleum engineers salary go in Anchorage?
Anchorage has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum engineers salary is worth about $201,328 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do petroleum engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.