Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between reservoir 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 reservoir engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a reservoir engineer has an average salary of $124,309, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a reservoir engineer include spotfire, material balances and economic analysis. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Reservoir Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $124,309 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $59.76 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 17,430 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A reservoir engineer is responsible for evaluating the amount of fluid mechanics in underground reservoirs. Reservoir engineers should have excellent analytical and geological knowledge to determine the location of fuels using advanced technology systems and applications. They also verify the cost of oil and natural gas by analyzing market trends and consumer demands, especially for investment and drilling ventures purposes. A reservoir engineer should have excellent communication skills to write reports and strategize efficiency on drilling processes.
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.
Reservoir engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reservoir Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $124,309 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $170,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Range Resources | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a reservoir engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Reservoir Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between reservoir engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Reservoir Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.5% 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% |