Petroleum Engineering Degree in Henderson, NV — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Henderson, NV. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$181K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Henderson
Cost of Living
129
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Henderson, NV Overview
Henderson, Nevada (pop. 320,189) has 12 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 129 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,783/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 Henderson is approximately $64,500, growing to $180,600 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$6,030/yr
Private Tuition
$44,348/yr
Room & Board
$16,991/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,099/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
57%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Henderson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Henderson's cost of living index of 129 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Henderson adjustment factor: 1.29x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Henderson
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Henderson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,030 | Private avg: $44,348
Henderson avg aid: $7,099/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,084
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,350
vs HS diploma in Henderson
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Henderson
$1,584,916
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,677,000) minus total education cost ($92,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Henderson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Henderson for Petroleum Engineering
Nevada State University
public
$6,030/yr
$24,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Southern Nevada Henderson
$3,420/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Henderson
Henderson offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Henderson Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Nevada Cities
Las Vegas, NV
$58K starting · COL 115
45 colleges
Reno, NV
$58K starting · COL 116
21 colleges
North Las Vegas, NV
$49K starting · COL 98.5
10 colleges
Spring Valley, NV
$50K starting · COL 100.2
8 colleges
Sunrise Manor, NV
$48K starting · COL 95.8
7 colleges
Paradise, NV
$50K starting · COL 100.5
7 colleges
Enterprise, NV
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Sparks, NV
$53K starting · COL 105.2
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Henderson
Computer Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$106K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$103K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$101K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Henderson — 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 Henderson.