Petroleum Engineer Salary
in Tacoma, WA
Develop methods to extract oil and gas from below the Earth's surface. Median salary in Tacoma: $160K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Salary range in Tacoma
Source: BLS OES 2026, H-1B DOL Disclosures Q1 2026. Figures represent annual base salary in Tacoma, Washington.
Key facts for Tacoma
Salary forecast: Tacoma Petroleum Engineer to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $168K by 2030.
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Petroleum Engineer Salary in Tacoma, Washington: Complete Guide (2026)
The median Petroleum Engineer salary in Tacoma, WA is $160,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Tacoma–WA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Salary range for Petroleum Engineer in Tacoma
Entry-level Petroleum Engineers in Tacoma with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $121,000 and $160,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $160,000 to $207,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $207,000 to $264,000 or more.
Cost of living in Tacoma for Petroleum Engineers
Tacoma has a cost of living index of 128 compared to the US national average of 100. Tacoma's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Crucially, Washington has no state income tax — giving Tacoma-based Petroleum Engineers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Education requirements for Petroleum Engineer
Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering. 15% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.