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The differences between petroleum geologists and petroleum engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a petroleum geologist, becoming a petroleum engineer takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a petroleum geologist has an average salary of $111,574, which is higher than the $99,505 average annual salary of a petroleum engineer.
The top three skills for a petroleum geologist include log data, well-site and GIS. The most important skills for a petroleum engineer are reservoir engineering, eclipse, and production engineering.
| Petroleum Geologist | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,574 | $99,505 |
| Hourly rate | $53.64 | $47.84 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 1,291 | 15,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 8 |
A Petroleum Geologist is responsible for the extraction and estimation of oil, gas, and other combustible resources. They estimate the depth, quality, and vastness of deposits using a wide range of sophisticated technologies.
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.
Petroleum geologists and petroleum engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Petroleum Geologist | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average salary | $111,574 | $99,505 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $176,000 | Between $65,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | Houston, TX | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Nevada |
| Best paying company | ConocoPhillips | Berry Petroleum Company |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a petroleum geologist and a petroleum engineer in terms of educational background:
| Petroleum Geologist | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Geology | Petroleum Engineering |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between petroleum geologists' and petroleum engineers' demographics:
| Petroleum Geologist | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 4.9% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 4% | 5% |