Bachelor's+20% vs national median1,233 grads tracked
Petroleum Engineering at University of Texas at Austin
Ranked 1st of 15 bachelor's programs in Petroleum Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$129,468
middle 50%: $90,235 – $164,392
Median · 5 years out
$182,751
middle 50%: $126,409 – $243,680
Median · 10 years out
$263,536
middle 50%: $181,012 – $429,854
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Petroleum Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Petroleum Engineering graduates from UT Austin earn a median first-year salary of $129k. Ten-year earnings climb to $264k, ranking first among 15 peers.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
2.3 yrs
≈ $2,491 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas A&M University
$180,116 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$167,382 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$162,461 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$152,398 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$136,120 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$131,581 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$120,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$120,591 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$115,337 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$112,540 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Texas at Austin
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$215,480 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$206,592 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$173,536 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$167,891 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$164,408 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$160,721 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$159,387 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$156,021 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$147,611 · 5 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's)
$140,154 · 5 yrs out
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