Petroleum Engineering Degree in Pasadena, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Pasadena, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$124K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Pasadena
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Pasadena, TX Overview
Pasadena, Texas (pop. 152,272) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 88.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $585/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 Pasadena is approximately $44,250, growing to $123,900 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,948/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,306/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
51%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Pasadena (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pasadena's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Pasadena adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Pasadena
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Pasadena tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Pasadena avg aid: $9,306/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,275
vs HS diploma in Pasadena
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pasadena
$1,051,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,150,500) minus total education cost ($99,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Pasadena
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pasadena for Petroleum Engineering
Pasadena State University
public
$10,249/yr
$40,996 total
University of Pasadena
public
$12,075/yr
$48,300 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pasadena Community College
$5,344/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Pasadena
Pasadena offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pasadena 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 Pasadena
Computer Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$44K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$69K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Pasadena — 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 Pasadena.