Petroleum Engineers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $129,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $184,360 or more. The middle half of petroleum engineers in Seattle earn between $134,800 and $184,360.
- $130K10th
- $135K25th
- $135KMedian
- $184K75th
- $184K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $151,000 | $12,583 | $72.60 |
| Median | $134,800 | $11,233 | $64.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $134,800 | $11,233 | $64.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $184,360 | $15,363 | $88.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Petroleum Engineers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Petroleum engineers in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($149,490) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($157,150). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $144,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $151,000 | $134,800 | $129,510 | $184,360 | 40 |
| Washington | $149,490 | $134,800 | $107,690 | $184,360 | 190 |
| United States | $157,150 | $144,910 | $81,440 | $253,200 | 18,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Petroleum Engineers salary after taxes in Seattle
On the average salary of $151,000, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $114,474 a year, or $9,540 a month and $4,403 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for petroleum engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $151,000 buys what about $135,873 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Petroleum Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Sacramento, CA$168,400
- Salt Lake City, UT$158,610
- Ogden, UT$147,300
- San Francisco, CA$150,800
- Casper, WY$134,950
- Bakersfield, CA$137,320
Highest-paying cities for petroleum engineers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($203,250).
- Anchorage, AK$203,250
- Midland, TX$184,150
- Denver, CO$179,920
- Dallas, TX$178,520
- Houston, TX$177,780
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Petroleum Engineers salary in Seattle: questions
How much do petroleum engineers make an hour in Seattle?
$72.60 an hour on average, and $64.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level petroleum engineers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $129,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $134,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the petroleum engineers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $114,474 a year ($9,540 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $151,000. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do petroleum engineers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($157,150).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2171; area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.18, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.18).
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