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Drilling engineer salary
Average drilling engineer salary
$101,225
Drilling Engineer Salary Overview
The average salary for a Drilling Engineer in the United States is $101,225 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including experience level, geographic location, and the specific sector within the energy industry. For instance, drilling engineers with more than ten years of experience can earn significantly higher salaries compared to entry-level positions.
Regional Salary Variations
In certain states, such as Texas and North Dakota, drilling engineers typically see higher salaries due to the concentration of oil and gas operations. For example, positions in major drilling hubs can offer salaries exceeding $120,000. Conversely, states with less drilling activity may reflect lower average salaries.
Job Opportunities
Drilling engineers are essential in the exploration and production of oil and gas resources. Opportunities exist in various settings, from large multinational corporations to smaller independent firms. Pursuing advanced degrees or certifications can further enhance job prospects, allowing engineers to specialize in areas such as offshore drilling or environmental compliance.
Career Growth Potential
As the energy sector evolves, drilling engineers are positioned for growth, especially with the rise of sustainable energy practices. Staying informed about industry trends and technological advancements is vital for career advancement.
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Where can a Drilling Engineer earn more?
Drilling engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average drilling engineer salary by state
The average drilling engineer salary in Nevada, Rhode Island, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drilling engineer salary states are Minnesota, Utah, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drilling engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $123,222 | $59.24 |
| 2 | Nevada | $129,559 | $62.29 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $122,180 | $58.74 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $122,515 | $58.90 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $124,003 | $59.62 |
| 6 | Arizona | $109,221 | $52.51 |
| 7 | Alaska | $114,851 | $55.22 |
| 8 | Virginia | $105,099 | $50.53 |
| 9 | Florida | $117,748 | $56.61 |
| 10 | Washington | $105,230 | $50.59 |
| 11 | Texas | $104,673 | $50.32 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $101,487 | $48.79 |
| 13 | Vermont | $100,415 | $48.28 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $104,368 | $50.18 |
| 15 | Maine | $103,258 | $49.64 |
| 16 | New York | $99,535 | $47.85 |
| 17 | Idaho | $100,018 | $48.09 |
| 18 | Indiana | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 19 | Montana | $100,030 | $48.09 |
| 20 | California | $99,216 | $47.70 |
| 21 | Colorado | $97,501 | $46.88 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $104,299 | $50.14 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $94,603 | $45.48 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $99,542 | $47.86 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $96,666 | $46.47 |
| 26 | Illinois | $95,208 | $45.77 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $92,842 | $44.64 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $94,811 | $45.58 |
| 29 | Oregon | $89,403 | $42.98 |
| 30 | Maryland | $92,077 | $44.27 |
| 31 | Michigan | $90,353 | $43.44 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $89,229 | $42.90 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $95,181 | $45.76 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $94,468 | $45.42 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $89,678 | $43.11 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $90,706 | $43.61 |
| 37 | Missouri | $89,968 | $43.25 |
| 38 | Iowa | $87,460 | $42.05 |
| 39 | Georgia | $81,602 | $39.23 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $86,343 | $41.51 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $84,461 | $40.61 |
| 42 | Utah | $69,802 | $33.56 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $70,902 | $34.09 |
| 44 | Kansas | $85,326 | $41.02 |
| 45 | Alabama | $67,530 | $32.47 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $77,103 | $37.07 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $80,880 | $38.88 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $76,439 | $36.75 |
| 49 | Ohio | $65,479 | $31.48 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $56,987 | $27.40 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $61,185 | $29.42 |
Highest paying cities for drilling engineers
The highest-paying cities for drilling engineers are Reno, NV, Fairbanks, AK, and Odessa, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $132,841 | $63.87 |
| 2 | Fairbanks, AK | $116,809 | $56.16 |
| 3 | Odessa, TX | $106,588 | $51.24 |
| 4 | Farmington, NM | $104,258 | $50.12 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $102,214 | $49.14 |
| 6 | Grand Junction, CO | $102,152 | $49.11 |
| 7 | Moore, OK | $87,383 | $42.01 |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | $84,306 | $40.53 |
Drilling engineer salary details
A drilling engineer's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $155,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drilling engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $155,000 | $12,917 | $75 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| Average | $101,225 | $8,435 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
Highest paying drilling engineer jobs
The highest paying types of drilling engineers are completion engineer, reservoir engineer, and reservoir engineering consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Analyst | $72,163 | $6,014 | $34.69 | 12,120 |
| Lead Field Engineer | $72,264 | $6,022 | $34.74 | 63,711 |
| Completion Engineer | $156,228 | $13,019 | $75.11 | 11,512 |
| Reservoir Engineer | $124,309 | $10,359 | $59.76 | 17,430 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $99,505 | $8,292 | $47.84 | 15,188 |
| Construction Engineer | $74,680 | $6,223 | $35.90 | 51,380 |
Top companies hiring drilling engineers now:
Which companies pay drilling engineers the most?
Drilling engineer salaries at Devon Energy and Tesco Corp are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drilling engineer salary at companies like California Resources and Helmerich & Payne are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devon Energy | $163,099 | $78.41 |
| 2 | Tesco Corp | $159,041 | $76.46 |
| 3 | California Resources | $158,399 | $76.15 |
| 4 | Helmerich & Payne | $152,811 | $73.47 |
| 5 | Hunt Oil | $146,283 | $70.33 |
| 6 | Exxon Mobil | $145,467 | $69.94 |
| 7 | Hess | $143,486 | $68.98 |
| 8 | Chevron | $143,287 | $68.89 |
| 9 | Apache | $141,045 | $67.81 |
| 10 | Marathon Oil | $138,293 | $66.49 |
| 11 | BP America Inc | $138,164 | $66.42 |
| 12 | Endeavor Energy Resources | $134,891 | $64.85 |
| 13 | EOG Resources | $134,717 | $64.77 |
| 14 | Aera Energy | $132,237 | $63.58 |
| 15 | Occidental Petroleum | $131,500 | $63.22 |
| 16 | Nabors Industries | $128,957 | $62.00 |
| 17 | Schlumberger | $125,702 | $60.43 |
| 18 | Baker Hughes | $121,487 | $58.41 |
| 19 | Lewis Energy Group | $120,607 | $57.98 |
| 20 | NOV | $108,747 | $52.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drilling engineer salary trends
The average drilling engineer salary has risen by $11,094 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drilling engineer earned $90,131 annually, but today, they earn $101,225 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for drilling engineers over the last decade.
Compare drilling engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drilling engineer salary over time
Compare drilling engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drilling engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $101,000 | $48.67 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $48.80 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | $101,000 | $48.61 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $97,500 | $46.88 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $94,500 | $45.44 | -1.4% |
Recently added drilling engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civitas Resources Inc. | Engineer III, Drilling | Dallas, TX | 06/16/2025 | $155,000 |
| Calpine | Drilling Engineer III | Middletown, CA | 05/29/2025 | $119,372 |
| Civitas Resources, Inc. | Engineer III, Drilling | Dallas, TX | 05/03/2025 | $155,000 |
| Bp Products N.A | Lead Performance Drilling Engineer | Boone, CO | 04/28/2025 | $180,000 |
| BP Americas, Inc. | Lead Performance Drilling Engineer | Denver, CO | 04/16/2025 | $180,000 |
| KLM Careers | Junior Drill & Blast Engineer | Alma, NY | 02/19/2025 | $70,000 |
| Empire State Mines, LLC | Junior Drill & Blast Engineer | Gouverneur, NY | 02/16/2025 | $73,000 |
| KLM Careers | Junior Drill & Blast Engineer | Alma, NY | 01/30/2025 | $70,000 |
| Empire State Mines, LLC | Junior Drill & Blast Engineer | Gouverneur, NY | 01/27/2025 | $73,000 |
| Thiess | Drill and Blast Engineer-Sudbury, On (Canada) | Reno, NV | 01/21/2025 | $104,000 |
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