Petroleum Engineering Degree in Laredo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Laredo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Laredo
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Laredo, TX Overview
Laredo, Texas (pop. 255,305) has 14 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $982/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 Laredo is approximately $45,000, growing to $126,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$7,850/yr
Private Tuition
$40,249/yr
Room & Board
$9,561/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,889/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Laredo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Laredo's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Laredo adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Laredo
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Laredo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,850 | Private avg: $40,249
Laredo avg aid: $9,889/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$69,644
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Laredo
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Laredo
$1,100,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,170,000) minus total education cost ($69,644)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Laredo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Laredo for Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M International University
public
$7,850/yr
$31,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Laredo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Laredo
Laredo offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Laredo Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Laredo
Computer Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$72K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$70K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Laredo — 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 Laredo.