There are currently an estimated 21,400 petroleum engineers in the United States. The petroleum engineer job market is expected to grow by 2.3% between 2022 and 2032.
How employable are petroleum engineers?
CareerExplorer rates petroleum engineers with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 4,100 petroleum engineers. That number is based on 500 additional petroleum engineers, and the retirement of 3,600 existing petroleum engineers.
What’s the supply of petroleum engineers?
The petroleum engineer industry is concentrated in Texas, Oklahoma, California
Petroleum Engineer job market by state
| State Name | Employed Petroleum Engineers |
|---|---|
| Texas | 17,840 |
| Oklahoma | 2,380 |
| California | 2,240 |
| Louisiana | 1,510 |
| Colorado | 1,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 930 |
| Alaska | 820 |
| West Virginia | 390 |
| Wyoming | 380 |
| Ohio | 310 |
| New Mexico | 300 |
| Illinois | 280 |
| Montana | 220 |
| Virginia | 220 |
| New Jersey | 190 |
| Utah | 190 |
| Kansas | 180 |
| North Dakota | 140 |
| Alabama | 130 |
| Michigan | 120 |
| Arizona | 110 |
| Arkansas | 100 |
| Georgia | 80 |
| Tennessee | 40 |
| Missouri | 40 |