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The differences between petroleum engineers and field 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 a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a petroleum engineer has an average salary of $99,505, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a petroleum engineer include reservoir engineering, eclipse and production engineering. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Petroleum Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,505 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $47.84 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 15,188 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
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.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Petroleum engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Petroleum Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,505 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $150,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Berry Petroleum Company | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a petroleum engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Petroleum Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between petroleum engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Petroleum Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |