Petroleum Engineering Degree in McKinney, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for McKinney, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$147K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in McKinney
Cost of Living
104.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in McKinney, TX Overview
McKinney, Texas (pop. 199,177) has 8 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 104.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,140/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 McKinney is approximately $52,400, growing to $146,720 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,870/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,814/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
59%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in McKinney (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for McKinney's cost of living index of 104.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.McKinney adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for McKinney
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local McKinney tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
McKinney avg aid: $11,814/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,080
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,720
vs HS diploma in McKinney
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in McKinney
$1,263,320
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,362,400) minus total education cost ($99,080)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in McKinney
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in McKinney for Petroleum Engineering
McKinney State University
public
$10,909/yr
$43,636 total
University of McKinney
public
$10,604/yr
$42,416 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
McKinney Community College
$5,398/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in McKinney
McKinney offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key McKinney 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 McKinney
Computer Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$86K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$82K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in McKinney — 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 McKinney.