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The differences between petroleum engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a petroleum engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a petroleum engineer has an average salary of $99,505, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a petroleum engineer include reservoir engineering, eclipse and production engineering. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Petroleum Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,505 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $47.84 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 15,188 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Petroleum engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Petroleum Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,505 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $150,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Berry Petroleum Company | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a petroleum engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Petroleum Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between petroleum engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Petroleum Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |