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The differences between petroleum engineers and mechanical 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 mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a petroleum engineer has an average salary of $99,505, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a petroleum engineer include reservoir engineering, eclipse and production engineering. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Petroleum Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,505 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $47.84 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 15,188 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Petroleum engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Petroleum Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,505 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $150,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| 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 mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Petroleum Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between petroleum engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Petroleum Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |