Petroleum Engineers
Architecture and Engineering
Getting more oil and gas out of wells — and deciding whether new or changed tools are worth using — sits at the center of the job. That means specifying and supervising well modifications and stimulation programs, watching production rates, and directing tests and surveys. Records of drilling and production have to be kept; data also feeds recommendations on where to place wells and estimates of cost and expected output so a site can be judged as economically viable. Operating problems are worked through with other engineers and operators. It suits people who like weighing production data against cost, solving field problems, and giving clear technical advice.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$144'910
Median Wage Market Position
$144'910
What you might do
- Plan drilling and recovery for oil and gas fields
- Direct well completion, testing, and surveys
- Supervise treatments that raise oil and gas recovery
- Watch production rates and plan well rework
- Study field data to decide where wells go
- Estimate costs and value of potential wells
Skills that matter
- Supervising well stimulation programs
- Monitoring oil and gas production
- Analyzing data to place new wells
- Keeping drilling and production records
- Helping engineers solve operating problems
- Estimating well costs and output
AI & the future of this role
Reservoir modeling, production optimization, and technical forecasting are tasks AI systems could take over more often. Field oversight and drilling decisions still require judgment, though much of the analytical core looks relatively exposed.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details