Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Louisiana is $139,640/year ($67.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $159,991 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 14% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $140K get you in Louisiana?
About petroleum engineers
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Petroleum engineers pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $140K locally vs. $145K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 14.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $140K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $178K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Engineers salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $148K | +6% | 320 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $140K, rent takes 14.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,606/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is petroleum engineer a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $140K locally vs. $145K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
Louisiana pays $140K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum engineers make in Louisiana?
The median is $139,640 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,440, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $221,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $140K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,404/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 14.2% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum engineers salary is worth about $159,991 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.