Petroleum Engineering Degree in Kent, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Kent, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$162K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Kent
Cost of Living
115.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Kent, WA Overview
Kent, Washington (pop. 136,588) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 115.8 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,440/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 Kent is approximately $57,900, growing to $162,120 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,433/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,467/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Kent (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kent's cost of living index of 115.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Kent adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Kent
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Kent tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Kent avg aid: $12,467/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,370
vs HS diploma in Kent
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kent
$1,400,468
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,505,400) minus total education cost ($104,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Kent
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kent for Petroleum Engineering
Kent State University
public
$12,886/yr
$51,544 total
University of Kent
public
$10,829/yr
$43,316 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kent Community College
$5,759/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Kent
Kent offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kent Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Kent
Computer Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$95K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$93K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$93K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Kent — 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 Kent.