Career Paths From Petroleum Engineers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Industrial EngineersLateral Move94.9% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Industrial Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Industrial Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$102,440
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Environmental EngineersLateral Move94.3% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Environmental Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Environmental Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$107,110
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Architectural and Engineering ManagersCareer Change94.4% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Architectural and Engineering Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Architectural and Engineering Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 18% higher.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$171,270
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
5
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsLateral Move93.3% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 21% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$115,160
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Conservation ScientistsCareer Change95.1% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Conservation Scientists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Conservation Scientists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 50% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$73,010
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsCareer Change95.4% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 47% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$76,780
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Physicians, PathologistsCareer Change92.6% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Physicians, Pathologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Physicians, Pathologists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 116% higher.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$312,400
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
5
Producers and DirectorsCareer Change92.4% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Producers and Directors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Producers and Directors is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 38% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$90,360
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Animal ScientistsCareer Change92.7% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Animal Scientists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Animal Scientists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 52% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$68,940
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
5
Transportation InspectorsCareer Change93.3% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Transportation Inspectors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Transportation Inspectors is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 36% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$92,100
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersCareer Change95.5% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$107,230
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Postmasters and Mail SuperintendentsCareer Change92.6% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Postmasters and Mail Superintendents share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Postmasters and Mail Superintendents is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 4). Median salary is about 33% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$96,660
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical EngineersLateral Move0% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Chemical Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (0% match). Chemical Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$125,040
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksCareer Change93.6% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 4). Median salary is about 59% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$59,650
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
2
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersLateral Move0% skill match
Petroleum Engineers and Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (0% match). Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 27% lower.
Current median salary
$144,910
Target median salary
$106,220
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.