Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Colorado is $172,190/year ($82.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $93K at the entry level to $265K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $172K get you in Colorado?
About petroleum engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $93K. Mid-career wages sit at $172K. Top earners bring in $265K or more, a $172K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Engineers salary by metro in Colorado
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $175K | +1% | 900 |
| Grand Junction | $162K | -6% | 50 |
| Greeley | $132K | -23% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track petroleum engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $93K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,555/month.
Is petroleum engineer a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $172K here vs. $145K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
Colorado pays $172K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s +19%.
How much do petroleum engineers make in Colorado?
The median is $172,190 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,590, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $264,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $172K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,072/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a petroleum engineers salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum engineers salary is worth about $172,190 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.