Petroleum Engineering Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$144K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Charleston
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Charleston, SC Overview
Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/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 Charleston is approximately $51,500, growing to $144,200 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$13,659/yr
Private Tuition
$29,969/yr
Room & Board
$12,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,774/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
62%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Charleston
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969
Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,084
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Charleston
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Charleston
$1,235,916
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,339,000) minus total education cost ($103,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Charleston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Charleston for Petroleum Engineering
College of Charleston
public
$12,622/yr
$50,488 total
The Citadel
public
$14,696/yr
$58,784 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trident Technical College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Charleston
Charleston offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other Engineering Majors in Charleston
Computer Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$80K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Charleston — 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 Charleston.