Petroleum Engineering Degree in Oakland, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Oakland, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$185K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Oakland
Cost of Living
132
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Oakland, CA Overview
Oakland, California (pop. 433,031) has 13 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 132 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,787/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 Oakland is approximately $66,000, growing to $184,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,404/yr
Private Tuition
$43,067/yr
Room & Board
$17,543/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,438/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Oakland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oakland's cost of living index of 132 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Oakland adjustment factor: 1.32x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Oakland
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Oakland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,404 | Private avg: $43,067
Oakland avg aid: $12,438/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,800
vs HS diploma in Oakland
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oakland
$1,600,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,716,000) minus total education cost ($115,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Oakland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oakland for Petroleum Engineering
Mills College at Northeastern University
private
$42,250/yr
$169,000 total
Holy Names University
private
$41,232/yr
$164,928 total
Samuel Merritt University
private
$45,720/yr
$182,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Merritt College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Oakland
Oakland offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oakland Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Oakland
Computer Engineering
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$108K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$106K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$106K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$66K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Oakland — 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 Oakland.