Petroleum Engineer Salary in Washington
Based on 190+ workers in Washington
Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Median Annual Salary (WA)
$134,800
$64.81/hr
vs National Average
$133,391
+1.1% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$108K – $184K
190 employed in Washington
Salary Distribution — Petroleum Engineer in Washington
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $107,690 |
| 25th percentile | $129,510 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $134,800 |
| 75th percentile | $176,740 |
| 90th percentile | $184,360 |
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 Washington 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 Washington vs National
| Year | Median Salary (Washington) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $130,600 |
| 2024 | $129,660 |
| 2025 | $134,800 |
| 2026 (projected) | $140,144 |
The latest year is a projection based on recent wage trends — BLS has not yet released that year’s data.
| Year | Washington Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $130,600 | $127,162 |
| 2024 | $129,660 | $131,270 |
| 2025 | $134,800 | $133,391 |
| 2026 (projected) | $140,144 | $138,679 |
Petroleum Engineer Salary by Experience Level in Washington
| Experience Level | Years | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0-2 yrs | $129,510 |
| Mid-level | 3-5 yrs | $134,800 |
| Senior | 6-9 yrs | $176,740 |
| Staff / Lead | 10+ yrs | $184,360 |
Petroleum Engineer Salary in Other States
Related Petroleum Engineer Salaries in Washington
How other high-demand occupations in Washington compare to Petroleum Engineer ($134,800 median).
| Occupation | Median Salary | vs Petroleum Engineer | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager in WA | $189,680 | +40.7% | $91.19/hr |
| Aerospace Engineer in WA | $158,370 | +17.5% | $76.14/hr |
| Materials Engineer in WA | $139,840 | +3.7% | $67.23/hr |
| Electrical Engineer in WA | $132,710 | -1.6% | $63.80/hr |
| Nuclear Engineer in WA | $129,480 | -3.9% | $62.25/hr |
| Industrial Engineer in WA | $129,050 | -4.3% | $62.04/hr |
| Chemical Engineer in WA | $128,290 | -4.8% | $61.68/hr |
| Environmental Engineer in WA | $125,460 | -6.9% | $60.32/hr |
| Mechanical Engineer in WA | $110,430 | -18.1% | $53.09/hr |
| Civil Engineer in WA | $110,000 | -18.4% | $52.88/hr |
| Marine Engineer in WA | $109,550 | -18.7% | $52.67/hr |
| Physicist in WA | $134,790 | -0.0% | $64.80/hr |