Petroleum Engineer Salary in Montana
State-level salary data from BLS OES and H-1B filings
Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Median Annual Salary (MT)
$104,060
$50.03/hr
vs National Average
$133,391
-22.0% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$77K – $156K
Salary Distribution — Petroleum Engineer in Montana
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $77,450 |
| 25th percentile | $80,380 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $104,060 |
| 75th percentile | $137,540 |
| 90th percentile | $155,590 |
Top-Paying Industries for Petroleum Engineer (U.S.)
Which industries pay Petroleum Engineers the most — nationwide figures (industry-level data is not available by state). Petroleum Engineers in Montana tend to follow these industry patterns.
| Industry (U.S.) | Median Salary | Employed (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | $217,210 | 60 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $171,710 | 2K |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $166,450 | 9K |
| Manufacturing | $165,030 | 1K |
| Wholesale Trade | $147,230 | — |
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS National Industry-Specific estimates, May 2025. National figures (not state-specific).
Historical Salary Trend — Petroleum Engineer in Montana vs National
| Year | Median Salary (Montana) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $99,220 |
| 2024 | $84,380 |
| 2025 | $104,060 |
| 2026 (projected) | $110,304 |
The latest year is a projection based on recent wage trends — BLS has not yet released that year’s data.
| Year | Montana Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $99,220 | $127,162 |
| 2024 | $84,380 | $131,270 |
| 2025 | $104,060 | $133,391 |
| 2026 (projected) | $110,304 | $141,394 |
Petroleum Engineer Salary by Experience Level in Montana
| Experience Level | Years | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0-2 yrs | $80,380 |
| Mid-level | 3-5 yrs | $104,060 |
| Senior | 6-9 yrs | $137,540 |
| Staff / Lead | 10+ yrs | $155,590 |
Petroleum Engineer Salary in Other States
Related Petroleum Engineer Salaries in Montana
How other high-demand occupations in Montana compare to Petroleum Engineer ($104,060 median).
| Occupation | Median Salary | vs Petroleum Engineer | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager in MT | $146,030 | +40.3% | $70.21/hr |
| Chemical Engineer in MT | $127,490 | +22.5% | $61.29/hr |
| Industrial Engineer in MT | $104,430 | +0.4% | $50.21/hr |
| Environmental Engineer in MT | $100,140 | -3.8% | $48.14/hr |
| Mechanical Engineer in MT | $94,190 | -9.5% | $45.28/hr |
| Civil Engineer in MT | $93,070 | -10.6% | $44.75/hr |
| Electrical Engineer in MT | $87,360 | -16.0% | $42.00/hr |
| Materials Engineer in MT | $76,030 | -26.9% | $36.55/hr |
| Optometrist in MT | $104,280 | +0.2% | $50.13/hr |
| Computer Network Architect in MT | $104,300 | +0.2% | $50.14/hr |
| Physicist in MT | $103,800 | -0.2% | $49.90/hr |
| Lawyer in MT | $103,720 | -0.3% | $49.87/hr |