Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Oklahoma is $153,020/year ($73.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $221K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $174,960 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,081/month, or 11.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $153K get you in Oklahoma?
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Petroleum engineers pay in Oklahoma tracks closely to the national median, $153K locally vs. $145K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,081/month, 11.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (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, Oklahoma
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $153K. Top earners bring in $221K or more, a $134K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Engineers salary by metro in Oklahoma
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $176K | +15% | 700 |
| Tulsa | $131K | -15% | 370 |
Compare to other states
Track petroleum engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
Yes — at the median salary of $153K, rent takes 11.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,219/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is petroleum engineer a high-paying job in Oklahoma?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $153K locally vs. $145K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
Oklahoma pays $153K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $175K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do petroleum engineers make in Oklahoma?
The median is $153,020 a year, that works out to about $74 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,990, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $221,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $153K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,047/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 11.9% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $174,960 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.