Also called: Oil and Gas Engineer
Figures out how to get oil and natural gas out of the ground safely and profitably.
You plan where to drill a new well, analyze pressure data from wells already producing, and fly out to a rig to troubleshoot a problem. It's one of the highest-paying engineering degrees.
Pay swings with oil prices.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in petroleum engineering (or mechanical/chemical engineering).
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Oil and gas jobs swing up and down with oil prices; long-term outlook is flat to slightly growing.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI optimizes drilling and production plans, trimming entry hires; boom-bust cycles also shake openings.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2171.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.