Petroleum Engineering Degree in Cary, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Cary, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$152K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Cary
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Cary, NC Overview
Cary, North Carolina (pop. 174,721) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/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 Cary is approximately $54,250, growing to $151,900 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$9,200/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,364/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,896/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
53%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Cary (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cary's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Cary adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Cary
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Cary tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,200 | Private avg: $34,000
Cary avg aid: $8,896/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,275
vs HS diploma in Cary
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cary
$1,312,244
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,410,500) minus total education cost ($98,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Cary
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cary for Petroleum Engineering
Cary State University
public
$8,460/yr
$33,840 total
University of Cary
public
$9,070/yr
$36,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cary Community College
$5,719/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Cary
Cary offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cary Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Cary
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Cary — 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 Cary.