Petroleum Engineers Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Pittsburgh, PA is $98,800/year ($47.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $104,363 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,299/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Petroleum Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $201K | +42% | 310 |
| Utah | $167K | +18% | 380 |
| Tennessee | $164K | +16% | 50 |
| Texas | $153K | +8% | 10,640 |
| Wyoming | $153K | +8% | 320 |
| California | $148K | +5% | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma | $142K | +1% | 1,290 |
| New Jersey | $141K | -0% | 30 |
| Louisiana | $135K | -5% | 920 |
| Michigan | $131K | -7% | 80 |
| North Dakota | $130K | -8% | 190 |
| Washington | $130K | -8% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $129K | -9% | 60 |
| Kansas | $118K | -16% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -16% | 390 |
| Ohio | $108K | -24% | 170 |
| Nebraska | $107K | -24% | 70 |
| West Virginia | $103K | -27% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $102K | -28% | 30 |
| New York | $95K | -33% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $93K | -34% | 470 |
| Montana | $84K | -40% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 states
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 Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum engineers make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $98,800 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,040, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $167,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,238/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $104,363 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.