Petroleum Engineering Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$178K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Jersey City is approximately $63,500, growing to $177,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$1,513,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,651,000) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Petroleum Engineering
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$68K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Jersey City
Computer Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$104K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$102K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$102K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$99K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$99K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Jersey City — 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 Jersey City.