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Petroleum inspector salary
Average petroleum inspector salary
$48,415
Understanding the Petroleum Inspector Salary
The role of a Petroleum Inspector is critical in the oil and gas industry, responsible for ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. As of October 2025, the average salary for a petroleum inspector is $48,415 per year. Factors influencing salary include location, years of experience, and specific industry sectors.
Salary Variations by State
Petroleum inspectors in states such as Texas and Alaska tend to earn higher salaries due to the concentration of oil production in these regions. For example, inspectors in Texas can earn upwards of $65,000 annually, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in high-production areas.
Experience Level Matters
Entry-level inspectors may start with salaries around $40,000, while those with significant experience can command salaries exceeding $60,000. Continuous professional development and certifications can further enhance earning potential.
Job Opportunities
As the demand for energy grows, the need for qualified petroleum inspectors will likely increase. Job seekers can explore various positions through platforms like Zippia, where they can apply for jobs and access salary insights tailored to their qualifications and location.
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Where can a Petroleum Inspector earn more?
Petroleum inspector salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level petroleum inspector | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Mid-level petroleum inspector | $45,800 | $22.01 |
| Senior-level petroleum inspector | $60,500 | $29.09 |
Petroleum inspector salary estimates from across the web
Average petroleum inspector salary by state
The average petroleum inspector salary in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average petroleum inspector salary states are Wyoming, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for petroleum inspectors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $71,268 | $34.26 |
| 2 | Florida | $54,461 | $26.18 |
| 3 | Maryland | $62,075 | $29.84 |
| 4 | New York | $60,958 | $29.31 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $59,094 | $28.41 |
| 6 | Texas | $53,036 | $25.50 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $54,128 | $26.02 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $78,342 | $37.66 |
| 9 | Arizona | $51,973 | $24.99 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $62,574 | $30.08 |
| 11 | California | $57,097 | $27.45 |
| 12 | Nevada | $51,257 | $24.64 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $49,878 | $23.98 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $47,335 | $22.76 |
| 15 | Virginia | $52,348 | $25.17 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $52,166 | $25.08 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $55,224 | $26.55 |
| 18 | Delaware | $55,653 | $26.76 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $47,412 | $22.79 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $47,865 | $23.01 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $48,172 | $23.16 |
| 22 | Georgia | $46,333 | $22.28 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $48,543 | $23.34 |
| 24 | Utah | $48,304 | $23.22 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $50,461 | $24.26 |
| 27 | Colorado | $46,774 | $22.49 |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,172 | $21.24 |
| 29 | Ohio | $45,311 | $21.78 |
| 30 | Vermont | $44,537 | $21.41 |
| 31 | Maine | $43,873 | $21.09 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $42,938 | $20.64 |
| 33 | Illinois | $48,604 | $23.37 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $44,628 | $21.46 |
| 35 | Idaho | $42,488 | $20.43 |
| 36 | Montana | $40,568 | $19.50 |
| 37 | Missouri | $44,566 | $21.43 |
| 38 | Washington | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| 39 | Kansas | $43,589 | $20.96 |
| 40 | Oregon | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 41 | Alaska | $44,218 | $21.26 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $42,365 | $20.37 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $37,804 | $18.18 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $38,713 | $18.61 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,462 | $19.45 |
| 46 | Michigan | $40,573 | $19.51 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $34,424 | $16.55 |
| 48 | Iowa | $40,062 | $19.26 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $39,362 | $18.92 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $39,286 | $18.89 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $36,121 | $17.37 |
Highest paying cities for petroleum inspectors
The highest-paying cities for petroleum inspectors are Linden, NJ, Glen Burnie, MD, and Freeport, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linden, NJ | $62,473 | $30.04 |
| 2 | Glen Burnie, MD | $62,275 | $29.94 |
| 3 | Freeport, NY | $61,512 | $29.57 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,352 | $28.53 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,398 | $27.60 |
| 6 | East Providence, RI | $55,018 | $26.45 |
| 7 | Corpus Christi, TX | $54,422 | $26.16 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, FL | $53,073 | $25.52 |
| 9 | Romeoville, IL | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| 10 | Charleston, SC | $47,921 | $23.04 |
| 11 | Savannah, GA | $47,339 | $22.76 |
| 12 | Bellingham, WA | $46,103 | $22.16 |
| 13 | Logan, UT | $45,285 | $21.77 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $38,267 | $18.40 |
Petroleum inspector salary details
A petroleum inspector's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a petroleum inspector's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $48,415 | $4,035 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying petroleum inspector jobs
The highest paying types of petroleum inspectors are senior inspector, lead inspector, and weld inspector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance Inspector | $36,842 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 74,410 |
| Inspector General | $48,026 | $4,002 | $23.09 | 58,208 |
| Test Operator | $35,591 | $2,966 | $17.11 | 63,674 |
| Certified Welding Inspector | $47,494 | $3,958 | $22.83 | 50,814 |
| Quality Inspector | $33,197 | $2,766 | $15.96 | 70,978 |
| Coating Inspector | $46,342 | $3,862 | $22.28 | 16,698 |
Top companies hiring petroleum inspectors now:
Which companies pay petroleum inspectors the most?
Petroleum inspector salaries at Intertek and Bureau Veritas are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average petroleum inspector salary at companies like SGS and Intertek USA, Inc. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intertek | $62,817 | $30.20 |
| 2 | Bureau Veritas | $55,847 | $26.85 |
| 3 | SGS | $49,808 | $23.95 |
| 4 | Intertek USA, Inc. | $48,969 | $23.54 |
| 5 | AmSpec Group | $48,683 | $23.41 |
| 6 | CAMIN CARGO CONTROL | $48,459 | $23.30 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Petroleum Inspector salary by industry
The average petroleum inspector salary varies across industries:
- The average petroleum inspector salary in the technology industry is $62,781, the highest of any industry.
- The average petroleum inspector salary in the finance industry is $55,828.
- Petroleum inspectors in the energy industry earn an average salary of $49,414, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for petroleum inspectors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $62,781 | $30.18 |
| 2 | Government | $55,828 | $26.84 |
| 3 | Internet | $49,842 | $23.96 |
| 4 | Energy | $49,414 | $23.76 |
High paying petroleum inspector jobs
Petroleum inspector salary trends
The average petroleum inspector salary has risen by $7,682 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average petroleum inspector earned $40,733 annually, but today, they earn $48,415 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for petroleum inspectors over the last decade.
Compare petroleum inspector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average petroleum inspector salary over time
Compare petroleum inspector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Petroleum inspector salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,400 | $23.28 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $46,800 | $22.52 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $45,800 | $22.01 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $44,700 | $21.48 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $44,000 | $21.16 | +2.1% |
Recently added petroleum inspector salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Msccn | Caleb Brett-Petroleum Inspector | Channelview, TX | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Intertek USA Inc. | Caleb Brett-Petroleum Inspector | Channelview, TX | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Intertek | Caleb Brett-Petroleum Inspector | Houston, TX | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Msccn | Caleb Brett-Experienced Petroleum Inspector-Signal | Signal Hill, CA | 06/22/2025 | $50,088 |
| Intertek USA, Inc. | Caleb Brett-Experienced Petroleum Inspector | Signal Hill, CA | 06/17/2025 | $50,088 |
| Intertek | Petroleum Inspector | Benicia, CA | 06/13/2025 | $58,436 |
| The Bergaila Companies | American Petroleum Inspector (API) | Freeport, TX | 06/09/2025 | $135,655 |
| Intertek | Caleb Brett-Petroleum Inspector | Channelview, TX | 05/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| Bureau Veritas | Petroleum Inspector-Mobile | Mobile, AL | 05/23/2025 | $45,914 |
| Bureau Veritas | Petroleum Inspector | Corpus Christi, TX | 05/16/2025 | $75,132 |
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