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

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

"The median annual wage for petroleum engineers in Colorado is $172,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% above the national median of $144,910."

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

"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 Colorado?"

"BLS counts about 1,390 petroleum engineers employed in Colorado (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado petroleum engineers earn a median annual wage of $172,190 ($82.78/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,390 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 18.8% above the national median of $144,910 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $172,190 ($82.78/hr)
25th percentile: $112,070 per year
75th percentile: $214,220 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $264,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $92,590 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 1,390
Versus national median: 18.8% above the U.S. median of $144,910
Job concentration: Location quotient 4.16 - this occupation is more concentrated in Colorado 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 Colorado is $172,190 per year - 19% above 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 Colorado

Wage level	Annual salary
Colorado entry level (10th percentile)	$92,590
Colorado 25th-75th percentile	$112,070 - $214,220
Colorado median	$172,190
Colorado top earners (90th percentile)	$264,960
U.S. median	$144,910

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,390.

The Colorado Job Market: Petroleum Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Colorado	1,390
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.48
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	4.16
Mean annual wage in Colorado	$170,270

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 4.16, Colorado employs petroleum engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Colorado

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering - while licensing runs through Colorado’s own boards: PE license for some roles; not required for most operator jobs. Verify current requirements with the Colorado 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 Colorado?

The median annual wage for petroleum engineers in Colorado is $172,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% above the national median of $144,910.

How do I become a petroleum engineer in Colorado?

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 Colorado?

BLS counts about 1,390 petroleum engineers employed in Colorado (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), Colorado 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)