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The average salary for a Drilling Fluids Engineer is approximately $89,974 annually, which translates to about $43 per hour. This role is crucial in the oil and gas industry, focusing on the formulation and management of drilling fluids that enhance drilling efficiency and safety. As the demand for energy resources grows, so does the need for skilled engineers in this sector.
Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location. Texas, a major hub for the energy industry, often offers some of the highest salaries for this role, while states like California and Alaska also provide competitive compensation based on the cost of living and demand. Understanding these variances is key for job seekers looking to maximize their earning potential.
With experience, drilling fluids engineers can advance to senior roles or specialized positions, potentially leading to salaries exceeding six figures. Continuous education and certifications in new technologies can also enhance job prospects and salary potential.
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The highest-paying states for drilling fluids engineers are Nevada, Texas, and Delaware. The lowest average drilling fluids engineer salary states are South Dakota, Utah, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $116,586 | $56.05 |
| 2 | Texas | $122,136 | $58.72 |
| 3 | Nevada | $128,431 | $61.75 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $116,508 | $56.01 |
| 5 | Arizona | $106,729 | $51.31 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $110,018 | $52.89 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $102,584 | $49.32 |
| 8 | New York | $107,448 | $51.66 |
| 9 | Florida | $104,584 | $50.28 |
| 10 | Washington | $103,460 | $49.74 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $113,911 | $54.76 |
| 12 | Virginia | $100,167 | $48.16 |
| 13 | Idaho | $101,736 | $48.91 |
| 14 | California | $101,735 | $48.91 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $102,776 | $49.41 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $98,811 | $47.51 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $97,130 | $46.70 |
| 18 | Alaska | $96,065 | $46.19 |
| 19 | Colorado | $92,176 | $44.32 |
| 20 | Montana | $97,845 | $47.04 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $96,244 | $46.27 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $94,561 | $45.46 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $91,759 | $44.11 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $90,164 | $43.35 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $92,582 | $44.51 |
| 26 | Oregon | $88,914 | $42.75 |
| 27 | Vermont | $87,922 | $42.27 |
| 28 | Maryland | $87,433 | $42.04 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $85,654 | $41.18 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $92,165 | $44.31 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $90,706 | $43.61 |
| 32 | Maine | $90,493 | $43.51 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $92,852 | $44.64 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $84,474 | $40.61 |
| 35 | Illinois | $83,968 | $40.37 |
| 36 | Michigan | $81,734 | $39.30 |
| 37 | Indiana | $81,666 | $39.26 |
| 38 | Georgia | $79,494 | $38.22 |
| 39 | Missouri | $85,982 | $41.34 |
| 40 | Utah | $72,868 | $35.03 |
| 41 | Iowa | $81,880 | $39.37 |
| 42 | Kansas | $83,108 | $39.96 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $77,433 | $37.23 |
| 44 | Alabama | $65,668 | $31.57 |
| 45 | Ohio | $76,201 | $36.64 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $77,885 | $37.44 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $74,057 | $35.60 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $73,314 | $35.25 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $55,906 | $26.88 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $63,167 | $30.37 |
The highest-paying cities for drilling fluids engineers are Houston, TX, Titusville, FL, and Concord, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $122,450 | $58.87 |
| 2 | Titusville, FL | $109,518 | $52.65 |
| 3 | Concord, CA | $106,718 | $51.31 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $105,342 | $50.65 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $104,114 | $50.05 |
| 6 | Chesapeake, VA | $100,367 | $48.25 |
| 7 | Charleston, SC | $97,513 | $46.88 |
| 8 | Stratford, CT | $96,569 | $46.43 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $92,948 | $44.69 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $92,198 | $44.33 |
| 11 | Fond du Lac, WI | $92,096 | $44.28 |
| 12 | Springfield, MO | $87,489 | $42.06 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $82,192 | $39.52 |
| 14 | Kokomo, IN | $82,054 | $39.45 |
| 15 | Lenexa, KS | $82,005 | $39.43 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $79,316 | $38.13 |
| 17 | Huntsville, AL | $64,435 | $30.98 |
A drilling fluids engineer's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $154,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $154,000 | $12,833 | $74 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $89,974 | $7,498 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
The highest paying types of drilling fluids engineers are completion engineer, reservoir engineer, and reservoir engineering consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Analyst | $72,163 | $6,014 | $34.69 | 12,120 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Completion Engineer | $156,228 | $13,019 | $75.11 | 11,512 |
| Reservoir Engineer | $124,309 | $10,359 | $59.76 | 17,430 |
| Construction Engineer | $74,680 | $6,223 | $35.90 | 51,380 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $99,505 | $8,292 | $47.84 | 15,188 |
Top companies hiring drilling fluids engineers now:
Drilling fluids engineer salaries at Koch Industries and Schlumberger are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drilling fluids engineer salary at companies like PRO Unlimited and ConocoPhillips are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koch Industries | $132,116 | $63.52 |
| 2 | Schlumberger | $116,976 | $56.24 |
| 3 | PRO Unlimited | $112,194 | $53.94 |
| 4 | ConocoPhillips | $110,020 | $52.89 |
| 5 | General Electric | $100,371 | $48.26 |
| 6 | TechnipFMC | $100,263 | $48.20 |
| 7 | Momentus Space | $97,872 | $47.05 |
| 8 | American Axle & Manufacturing | $95,760 | $46.04 |
| 9 | Electric | $95,170 | $45.75 |
| 10 | Jacobs Enterprises | $95,156 | $45.75 |
| 11 | Loram Maintenance of Way | $94,541 | $45.45 |
| 12 | Firefly Aerospace | $94,258 | $45.32 |
| 13 | SpaceX | $94,206 | $45.29 |
| 14 | Virgin Hyperloop | $94,184 | $45.28 |
| 15 | Brunswick | $93,710 | $45.05 |
| 16 | Quaker Houghton | $93,597 | $45.00 |
| 17 | SRC | $93,324 | $44.87 |
| 18 | Hyspeco | $93,126 | $44.77 |
| 19 | Plug Power | $91,536 | $44.01 |
| 20 | General Dynamics | $91,323 | $43.91 |
The average drilling fluids engineer salary has risen by $9,860 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drilling fluids engineer earned $80,114 annually, but today, they earn $89,974 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for drilling fluids engineers over the last decade.
Compare drilling fluids engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare drilling fluids engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,000 | $43.26 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | $90,200 | $43.38 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | $89,900 | $43.21 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $86,700 | $41.67 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $84,000 | $40.39 | -1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relativity | Stage Fluids Engineer I | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $97,000 |
| Relativity | Launch Fluids Engineer II | Cape Canaveral, FL | 06/29/2025 | $112,000 |
| Space Exploration Technologies | Launch Engineer, Fluid Systems (Launch PAD) | Lompoc, CA | 05/18/2025 | $110,000 |
| Relativity | Launch Fluids Engineer II | Cape Canaveral, FL | 04/28/2025 | $112,000 |
| Spacex | Launch Pad Engineer, Fluid Systems | Cape Canaveral, FL | 04/28/2025 | $110,000 |
| Blue Origin | Fluids Launch Vehicle Engineer III | Van Horn, TX | 04/28/2025 | $117,498 |
| Corning Incorporated | Engineer, Imaging & Fluid Dynamics | Painted Post, NY | 04/11/2025 | $68,503 |
| Blue Origin | Fluids Launch Vehicle Engineer II | Van Horn, TX | 03/30/2025 | $96,310 |
| Blue Origin | Fluids Launch Vehicle Engineer III | Seattle, WA | 03/29/2025 | $117,498 |
| Relativity | Launch Fluids Engineer II | Cape Canaveral, FL | 03/26/2025 | $112,000 |
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