How to Become a Petroleum Engineer in California: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a petroleum engineer make in California?"

"The median annual wage for petroleum engineers in California is $143,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), in line with the national median of $144,910."

Q: "How do I become a petroleum engineer in California?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for some roles; not required for most operator jobs. See the steps below."

Q: "How many petroleum engineers work in California?"

"BLS counts about 1,060 petroleum engineers employed in California (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California petroleum engineers earn a median annual wage of $143,590 ($69.03/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,060 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.9% below the national median of $144,910 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $143,590 ($69.03/hr)
25th percentile: $126,500 per year
75th percentile: $171,980 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $207,370 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $61,780 per year
Workers employed in California: 1,060
Versus national median: -0.9% below the U.S. median of $144,910
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.50 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median petroleum engineer salary in California is $143,590 per year - in line with the national median of $144,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering.

Petroleum Engineer Salary in California

Wage level	Annual salary
California entry level (10th percentile)	$61,780
California 25th-75th percentile	$126,500 - $171,980
California median	$143,590
California top earners (90th percentile)	$207,370
U.S. median	$144,910

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,060.

The California Job Market: Petroleum Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in California	1,060
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.06
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.50
Mean annual wage in California	$147,940

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.50, California employs petroleum engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in California

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering - while licensing runs through California’s own boards: PE license for some roles; not required for most operator jobs. Verify current requirements with the California licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Petroleum Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Petroleum Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Petroleum Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$81,440
25th	$106,270
50th (median)	$144,910
75th	$197,920
90th	$253,200

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Petroleum Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Petroleum Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	19,600
2034 projected	19,800
Percent change	+1.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a petroleum engineer make in California?

The median annual wage for petroleum engineers in California is $143,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), in line with the national median of $144,910.

How do I become a petroleum engineer in California?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for some roles; not required for most operator jobs. See the steps below.

How many petroleum engineers work in California?

BLS counts about 1,060 petroleum engineers employed in California (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Petroleum Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Petroleum Engineers (SOC 17-2171), California and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)