Petroleum Engineering Degree in Arlington, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Arlington, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$200K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
142.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Arlington, VA Overview
Arlington, Virginia (pop. 238,643) has 9 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 142.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,040/month. Although national enrollment in Petroleum Engineering has been declining, graduates with skills in Reservoir Engineering and Drilling remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $71,250, growing to $199,500 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,293/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,637/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
60%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 142.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 1.43x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arlington avg aid: $10,637/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,972
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,375
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$1,730,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,852,500) minus total education cost ($121,972)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Petroleum Engineering
Arlington State University
public
$14,920/yr
$59,680 total
University of Arlington
public
$14,115/yr
$56,460 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$6,397/yr
Virginia Technical College - Arlington
$5,927/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Arlington
Computer Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$117K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$114K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$114K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$111K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Petroleum Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.