Petroleum Engineers Salary
The median pay for a petroleum engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $134,800/year ($64.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $130K at the entry level to $184K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $121,299 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Petroleum engineers pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $145K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $2,501/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level petroleum engineers (10th percentile) start around $130K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $184K or more, a $55K 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
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a petroleum engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for petroleum engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new petroleum engineers typically earn — is $130K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,771/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $145K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for petroleum engineers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $145K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — below the national median.
How much do petroleum engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $134,800 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $129,510, and experienced petroleum engineers can clear $184,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,574/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $121,299 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.