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The differences between reservoir engineers and petroleum engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a reservoir engineer and a petroleum engineer. Additionally, a reservoir engineer has an average salary of $124,309, which is higher than the $99,505 average annual salary of a petroleum engineer.
The top three skills for a reservoir engineer include spotfire, material balances and economic analysis. The most important skills for a petroleum engineer are reservoir engineering, eclipse, and production engineering.
| Reservoir Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $124,309 | $99,505 |
| Hourly rate | $59.76 | $47.84 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 17,430 | 15,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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.
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.
Reservoir engineers and petroleum engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reservoir Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average salary | $124,309 | $99,505 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $170,000 | Between $65,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Range Resources | Berry Petroleum Company |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a reservoir engineer and a petroleum engineer in terms of educational background:
| Reservoir Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Petroleum Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between reservoir engineers' and petroleum engineers' demographics:
| Reservoir Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| 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, 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 | 5% | 5% |