Petroleum Engineering Degree in Atlanta, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Atlanta, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$141K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Atlanta
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Atlanta, GA Overview
Atlanta is one of Georgia's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 29,341. Public tuition averages $10,828/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Atlanta is approximately $50,500, growing to $141,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$10,828/yr
Private Tuition
$57,948/yr
Room & Board
$11,866/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,255/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
50%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Atlanta (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Atlanta's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Atlanta adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Atlanta
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Atlanta tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,828 | Private avg: $57,948
Atlanta avg aid: $15,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,776
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,150
vs HS diploma in Atlanta
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Atlanta
$1,222,224
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,313,000) minus total education cost ($90,776)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Atlanta
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Atlanta for Petroleum Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
public
$12,682/yr
$50,728 total
Emory University
private
$57,948/yr
$231,792 total
Georgia State University
public
$8,974/yr
$35,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Atlanta Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Atlanta
Atlanta offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Atlanta Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Georgia Cities
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Atlanta
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Atlanta — 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 Atlanta.