Petroleum Engineers Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $97,610/year ($46.93/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level positions start around $98K. BLS does not publish top-end wages for this occupation because they exceed the reportable ceiling. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $84,430 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 58.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $98K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). 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, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in N/A or more.
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $97,610 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,600, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear N/A. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,987/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 60.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a petroleum engineers salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median petroleum engineers salary is worth about $84,430 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.