Also called: Oil and Gas Engineer, Production Engineer
Figures out how to get oil and natural gas out of the ground safely and profitably.
You study data from a field of 200 wells in West Texas and spot one whose output is dropping. You design a fix, maybe a new pump or a cleanup treatment, then drive out to the wellsite to watch the crew do the job.
BLS May 2024 median $141,280; 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. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). BLS 2024-34 projection.
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated drilling and AI field optimization cut engineers per well; field problem-solving and safety decisions stay human.
Classes: AP Calculus, AP Physics, Chemistry, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2171.
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