Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $148,390/year ($71.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $237K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $160,248 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 14.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $148K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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 New Orleans-Metairie
Petroleum engineers pay in New Orleans-Metairie tracks closely to the national median, $148K locally vs. $145K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,331/month, 15% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for petroleum engineers in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $170K | $172K |
| Midland | $172K | $180K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $169K | $164K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $120K | $127K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $148K. Top earners bring in $237K or more, a $164K 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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes — at the median salary of $148K, rent takes 15% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,369/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum engineer a high-paying job in New Orleans-Metairie?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $148K locally vs. $145K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $148K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum engineers make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $148,390 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,820, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $237,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $148K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,871/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 15% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $160,248 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.