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Job outlook for completion engineers in the United States
Are completion engineer jobs in demand?
Completion engineer job and salary trends over time
Completion engineer jobs over time
Completion engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,341 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,690 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,979 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,973 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,942 | 0.00% |
Average completion engineer salary over time
Completion engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $156,228 | $75.11 | --0.3% |
| 2025 | $156,672 | $75.32 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $156,046 | $75.02 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $150,483 | $72.35 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $145,876 | $70.13 | --1.4% |
Completion engineer jobs by state
Most common states for completion engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 172 | 25% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 64 | 7% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 541 | 6% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 317 | 5% |
| 5 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,432 | 4% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 330 | 4% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 278 | 4% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 250 | 4% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 170 | 4% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 182 | 3% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 85 | 3% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 58 | 3% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 37 | 3% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 19 | 3% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 19 | 3% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 15 | 3% |
| 17 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 516 | 2% |
| 18 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 408 | 2% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 380 | 2% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 20 | 2% |
Most common cities for completion engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah | 5 | 3% | $127,407 |
| 2 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $158,952 |
Completion Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of completion engineer experts
University of Pittsburgh
University of North Dakota
Weber State University
What Completion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Robert Enick: Petroleum engineers can have a wide variety of jobs; for example, Some of them become part of the teams that drill the wells deep into the earth to access layers of porous rock that contain natural gas or oil. Some PetE's arrive on site when the well is being drilled with tools that can be inserted into the well to determine if the well has penetrated porous rock layers containing natural gas or oil. Some PetE's will remain at a location for a long time once the wells in the area have been completed. After oil well production slows down and becomes uneconomic, it may make sense to inject a fluid into some wells to help push the oil into neighboring wells. In the US there are two favorite injected fluids. If the oil is very thick (high viscosity), then steam can be injected; as the steam condenses it heats the oil and makes it flow more easily. If the oil is very thin (low viscosity), then one can inject high pressure CO2 into the well. CO2 is a great solvent for oil and for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). PetE's design the injection strategies for these 'EOR' processes. In the past few decades there has been a surge in the production of natural gas and/or oil from 'unconventional' rock such as shale. PetE's are involved in every step of these processes.
What will help Completion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Robert Enick: Many people find petroleum engineering to be a very satisfying career because it produces the fuel that drives a substantial portion of the world economy. Petroleum engineers are also at the forefront of geologic disposal of CO2 in aquifers that is in its infancy now but it likely to grow dramatically in the immediate future. Petroleum engineering is also very appealing to people who enjoy 'hands-on' type of work and some travel. Petroleum engineers may also have the opportunity to work on off-shore platforms on a schedule that involves working 12-hr days for 7 days in a row, and then getting 2 weeks off. Some people may dislike petroleum engineering because it produces fuels that, once burned to generate heat or power, release CO2 into the atmosphere. Some consider petroleum engineering to be 'dirty' type of work. Some may think that given the interest in renewable energy that this field will not be around long enough for their career.
What will help Completion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Andreas Michael Ph.D.: If you want to enjoy success in petroleum engineering, you have to stay in the field long-term, making sure you grow deep, solid 'roots.' Retention matters. Historically, truly successful individuals held a well-balanced, multifaceted domain knowledge within the field.
What will help Completion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. A. Tye Gardner Ph.D.: Getting a master's degree goes a long way to making candidates stand out and improving earnings. My recommendation is to tailor your MS degree to the specific field you're interested in working in, because employers really want to see candidates that are passionate about the field, and very few people survive a graduate degree without at least a little passion. Available salary data indicates that if you choose an affordable program (let's just say Weber State University), it takes only a few years to pay off the added cost, increases starting salaries, and dramatically improves long-term earning potential. Moreover, you can find electrical engineers with MBAs at C-level positions all over the country. It turns out being an EE makes you a good candidate for business leadership.