Jobs Similar to Petroleum Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to petroleum engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Mining and Geological Engineers, Environmental Engineers and Water/Wastewater Engineers.
Petroleum Engineers: $144,910 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Petroleum Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 82% | $106,220−27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Environmental EngineersSame group | 82% | $107,110−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 81% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Water Resource Specialists | 81% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 78% | $102,440−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 78% | $125,040−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Industrial Ecologists | 78% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 78% | $115,160−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $64,950−55% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 78% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Materials Scientists | 78% | $117,790−19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Materials EngineersSame group | 77% | $112,860−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 77% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Transportation EngineersSame group | 77% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 77% | $171,270Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 77% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 77% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
82% similar · $106,220 (−27%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Environmental Engineers
82% similar · $107,110 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Water/Wastewater Engineers
81% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Water Resource Specialists
81% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Wind Energy Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Industrial Engineers
78% similar · $102,440 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Chemical Engineers
78% similar · $125,040 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Industrial Ecologists
78% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 10Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
78% similar · $115,160 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $64,950 (−55%) · Training or associate
- 12Automotive Engineers
78% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Materials Scientists
78% similar · $117,790 (−19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Materials Engineers
77% similar · $112,860 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
77% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Transportation Engineers
77% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
77% similar · $171,270 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Environmental Restoration Planners
77% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
77% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Microsystems Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for petroleum engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where petroleum engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Water Resource Specialists (85)
- Hydrologists (80)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (79)
- Materials Scientists (78)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (77)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (77)
- Logistics Engineers (76)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists (75)
- Conservation Scientists (75)
- Industrial Ecologists (75)
Questions about jobs like petroleum engineers
What jobs are most similar to petroleum engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Mining and Geological Engineers (82% similar), Environmental Engineers (82% similar), Water/Wastewater Engineers (81% similar), Water Resource Specialists (81% similar) and Energy Engineers (81% similar).
Do jobs like petroleum engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than petroleum engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.