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The differences between drilling engineers and petroleum engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a drilling engineer and a petroleum engineer. Additionally, a drilling engineer has an average salary of $101,225, which is higher than the $99,505 average annual salary of a petroleum engineer.
The top three skills for a drilling engineer include cost estimates, well design and data analysis. The most important skills for a petroleum engineer are reservoir engineering, eclipse, and production engineering.
| Drilling Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,225 | $99,505 |
| Hourly rate | $48.67 | $47.84 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 25,035 | 15,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A drilling engineer specializes in planning and overseeing a gas and oil company's drilling operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, coordinating with other experts and contractors, examining and evaluating the quality of drilling sites, and liaising with external parties. Furthermore, as a drilling engineer, it is essential to monitor the progress of operations and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and safety regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment.
A petroleum engineer is responsible for developing safe and efficient extracting procedures of drilling oil and gas from the underground surface. Petroleum engineers inspect the safety and stability of tools and equipment before and after every operation, conducting preventive maintenance with the machinery for its optimal performance. They also evaluate the specifications and measurements of the location by studying blueprints and analyzing statistical surveys. A petroleum engineer must have excellent analytical and organizational skills, especially when implementing drilling operations and resolving inconsistencies and equipment failures.
Drilling engineers and petroleum engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drilling Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,225 | $99,505 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $155,000 | Between $65,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Berry Petroleum Company |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a drilling engineer and a petroleum engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drilling Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Petroleum Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between drilling engineers' and petroleum engineers' demographics:
| Drilling Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |