Petroleum engineering salary and the national average
Petroleum engineers plan and direct the engineering aspects of locating and extracting petroleum or natural gas. It is a specialised, high-skill occupation with a small workforce—about 2,400 employed nationally according to the 2021 Census. Because of this small size, official statistical agencies do not publish a precise median or average weekly earnings figure for the role. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours and Jobs and Skills Australia both suppress the estimate for ANZSCO 6-digit occupations like petroleum engineers (code 233612) due to high sampling error.
Despite the lack of a direct figure, we can use related data to understand where petroleum engineering pay sits relative to the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 per year, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026).
What the data tells us
The closest official benchmarks are:
- Professionals occupation group: Average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60 (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). This is slightly below the national full-time average, but petroleum engineers are a subset of Professionals and typically earn more than the group average.
- Mining industry: Non-managerial employees in Mining had average hourly total cash earnings of $74.10 and average weekly total hours paid of 42.4 hours (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That works out to about $3,142 per week, or roughly $163,400 per year—well above the national full-time average.
- Full-time non-managerial adult employees in Mining: The median weekly earnings for this group are not published separately, but the industry average hourly rate is the highest of any industry.
Petroleum engineers are classified under Mining Engineers (2336) and work predominantly in the Mining industry. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that 90% work full-time, with average full-time hours of 45 per week. The median age is 39, and only 18% are female.
Factors that move pay above or below the average
Several factors can push a petroleum engineer’s salary above or below the national line:
Above the line
- Industry: The Mining industry pays the highest average hourly earnings in Australia. Even if a petroleum engineer works in oil and gas extraction (a subset of Mining), the premium is substantial.
- Location: Western Australia and the Northern Territory have the highest state full-time averages ($115,825 and $103,173 per year respectively). Petroleum engineers are concentrated in these regions, especially in the North West Shelf and Browse Basin projects.
- Experience and seniority: The median age of 39 suggests a relatively experienced workforce. Senior petroleum engineers, project managers, or those in supervisory roles can earn significantly more than the industry average.
- Specialist skills: Expertise in subsea engineering, reservoir simulation, or drilling optimisation commands higher pay.
Below the line
- Entry-level positions: Graduate petroleum engineers start lower, though still above the national average. The Mining industry’s average hourly rate of $74.10 is a guide for experienced non-managerial staff; graduates may earn 60–70% of that.
- Downturns in oil prices: The industry is cyclical. During low-price periods, bonuses and overtime may be reduced, and some roles may shift to lower-paying activities.
- Part-time or contract work: Only 10% work part-time, but those who do will have lower weekly earnings. Contractors may have higher hourly rates but less stability.
How the site’s line works
The Place a salary on the line tool compares any yearly salary to the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). It also shows the equivalent weekly and hourly amounts based on a 38-hour week. For petroleum engineers, a typical salary of, say, $150,000 per year would sit well above the line, while a graduate salary of $80,000 would be below it.
You can also explore States and territories to see how average pay varies by location, or Job medians to compare with other occupations.
Official sources and limitations
The ABS publishes two key surveys:
- Average Weekly Earnings (AWE): Released twice a year (May and November). The May 2026 release gives the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week. This is an average, not a median, and includes all full-time adult employees.
- Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH): Released annually (most recently May 2025). It provides medians and distributions. The all-employees median weekly earnings are $1,436, and the full-time median is $1,887.
Neither survey publishes a specific figure for petroleum engineers at the 6-digit ANZSCO level. Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile also notes that median weekly earnings are not available for this occupation.
Conclusion
While a precise petroleum engineering salary figure is not published by official sources, the available industry and occupation data strongly indicate that petroleum engineers earn well above the national full-time average of $108,352 per year. The Mining industry’s high average hourly earnings, the occupation’s full-time nature, and the concentration in high-paying states like Western Australia all point to a salary that is comfortably above the line. For the most accurate personal comparison, use the Place a salary on the line tool with your own salary figure.