Petroleum Engineers
Widely considered to be the best-paying engineering job within the oil and gas industry, petroleum engineers provide a number of valuable services to any job on which they may be working. Primarily responsible for developing new methods of extracting oil and gas, they focus on how to make the extracting not only more efficient, but also safer. In addition to this, they often find themselves working in hazardous conditions and with hazardous materials. However, they are paid very well for their efforts. Starting salaries begin at almost $75,000 annually, and those who gain several years of experience can earn well over $100,000 or more per year. Along with high salaries, petroleum engineers can expect to have job opportunities around the world and excellent opportunities for advancement.
Process Engineer
Responsible for developing cost-effective production methods for extracting oil and gas, process engineers are involved in every step of the engineering process. Whether designing engineering equipment or a supply and distribution network that is faster and more efficient, these engineers have tremendous responsibilities in any company. Salaries begin at $60,000 and can quickly escalate to nearly $100,000 annually, with top talent in some companies earning close to $250,000 per year. Many process engineers advance to high-level executive positions within companies, and some have gone on to become CEOs.
Site Engineer
Essentially the manager of an engineering team, site engineers are responsible for ensuring their team gets the work done on time and in a safe manner. Along with this, they also provide technical support to their team members and must possess excellent interpersonal skills so they will know the capabilities of each member of their team. Earning an average of $70,000 annually, many of these engineers advance into research and development jobs, where they focus their efforts on developing more advanced engineering technology.
Pipeline Engineer
One of the most complex engineering jobs within the oil and gas industry, pipeline engineers serve a variety of roles. One day they may be designing and constructing pumping stations, while another day they may be involved in project management meetings with senior-level executives. Regardless of their duties each day, they are paid well for their knowledge and expertise. Starting salaries average close to $60,000 per year, while those who gain experience and display unique talent can earn $85,000 or more per year. This job often requires working in very remote and rugged locations, and has the engineers utilizing some of today’s most technologically-advanced engineering equipment.