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Job outlook for drilling engineers in the United States
Are drilling engineer jobs in demand?
Drilling Engineer job and salary trends over time
Drilling Engineer jobs over time
Drilling Engineer job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,939 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,704 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,339 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,324 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,258 | 0.00% |
Average drilling engineer salary over time
Drilling Engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $101,225 | $48.67 | --0.3% |
| 2024 | $101,512 | $48.80 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | $101,107 | $48.61 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $97,502 | $46.88 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $94,517 | $45.44 | --1.4% |
Drilling Engineer jobs by state
Most common states for drilling engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 254 | 37% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 871 | 10% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 90 | 9% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 593 | 8% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 462 | 8% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 337 | 8% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 476 | 7% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 378 | 7% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,335 | 6% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 79 | 6% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 37 | 6% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 292 | 5% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 161 | 5% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 96 | 5% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 35 | 5% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 31 | 5% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 703 | 4% |
| 18 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 368 | 4% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 301 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 41 | 4% |
Drilling Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of drilling engineer experts
University of Pittsburgh
University of North Dakota
What Drilling Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Robert Enick: Petroleum engineers can have a wide variety of jobs; for example, Some of them become part of the teams that drill the wells deep into the earth to access layers of porous rock that contain natural gas or oil. Some PetE's arrive on site when the well is being drilled with tools that can be inserted into the well to determine if the well has penetrated porous rock layers containing natural gas or oil. Some PetE's will remain at a location for a long time once the wells in the area have been completed. After oil well production slows down and becomes uneconomic, it may make sense to inject a fluid into some wells to help push the oil into neighboring wells. In the US there are two favorite injected fluids. If the oil is very thick (high viscosity), then steam can be injected; as the steam condenses it heats the oil and makes it flow more easily. If the oil is very thin (low viscosity), then one can inject high pressure CO2 into the well. CO2 is a great solvent for oil and for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). PetE's design the injection strategies for these 'EOR' processes. In the past few decades there has been a surge in the production of natural gas and/or oil from 'unconventional' rock such as shale. PetE's are involved in every step of these processes.
What will help Drilling Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Robert Enick: Many people find petroleum engineering to be a very satisfying career because it produces the fuel that drives a substantial portion of the world economy. Petroleum engineers are also at the forefront of geologic disposal of CO2 in aquifers that is in its infancy now but it likely to grow dramatically in the immediate future. Petroleum engineering is also very appealing to people who enjoy 'hands-on' type of work and some travel. Petroleum engineers may also have the opportunity to work on off-shore platforms on a schedule that involves working 12-hr days for 7 days in a row, and then getting 2 weeks off. Some people may dislike petroleum engineering because it produces fuels that, once burned to generate heat or power, release CO2 into the atmosphere. Some consider petroleum engineering to be 'dirty' type of work. Some may think that given the interest in renewable energy that this field will not be around long enough for their career.
What general advice would you give to a Drilling Engineer?
Andreas Michael Ph.D.: The same skills that were important and prevalent in the field throughout the past and present. Fundamentals do not change. A state-of-the-art drilling simulator of today, for instance, will not be around in 30 years' time (at least not in its current form), but you can bet that the second law of thermodynamics will be. The emphasis should be on these classic elements.
What Drilling Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andreas Michael Ph.D.: Bar none, the primary virtue of petroleum-engineering-degree holders must be a strong competitive advantage in the relevant jobs market, relating to oil and gas exploration and production. A strong focus on the basics of their 'trade' is what will make them 'good at their job' - completeness on all fronts.
What will help Drilling Engineers increase their earning potential?
Andreas Michael Ph.D.: If you want to enjoy success in petroleum engineering, you have to stay in the field long-term, making sure you grow deep, solid 'roots.' Retention matters. Historically, truly successful individuals held a well-balanced, multifaceted domain knowledge within the field.