Careers in Petroleum Engineering

Enjoy Personal and Financial Rewards

As a petroleum engineer, you will contribute to meeting the energy needs while safeguarding the environment. And you will be well compensated for your efforts. Entry-level salaries for college graduates are among the highest of any field. So are long-term financial rewards. Equally satisfying, petroleum engineers gain responsibility faster and supervise important projects sooner than those in other engineering fields. The oil and gas industry offers higher average salaries than all other industries. Salaries for various positions vary by skills needed for the job, experience, and training. Employees at offshore operations typically earn higher wages than those working onshore due to extreme work conditions.

The oil and gas industry offers a wide range of career choices. Cutting-edge technology drives the industry and makes it possible to recover oil and gas from areas several miles below the surface of our oceans and from remote locations far from existing roads, cities, or supplies. The technology and ingenuity that make this industry successful comes from many disciplines working together to produce the energy that powers our world.

Many positions in the oil and gas industry are office-based. However, some take you around the world. Exploration and drilling workers frequently move from place to place. Operations and processing workers usually stay in the same location. Geologists, engineers, and project managers may split their time between the office and jobsites.

The Big Crew Change

Over the next 10 years, a large portion of the petroleum industry is set to retire. New engineers and scientists will be needed in every discipline. This new wave of young minds will take on larger roles and bigger projects earlier in their careers than their predecessors. That means opportunities to advance quickly.

Job Requirements

Petroleum industry workers are typically mechanically inclined, safety conscious, and work well in a team. Entry-level field jobs, such as roughnecks and roustabouts, typically require little or no previous training. Technician positions may require a two-year associate’s degree. Jobs in areas such as geology and engineering require at least a bachelor’s degree. Many companies prefer a master’s degree for these positions.