Petroleum Engineering Degree in Sacramento, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Sacramento, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$157K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Sacramento
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Sacramento, CA Overview
Sacramento is one of California's top college towns, with 38 institutions and a student population of 18,535. Public tuition averages $7,488/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Sacramento is approximately $56,000, growing to $156,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
38
Public Tuition
$7,488/yr
Private Tuition
$44,382/yr
Room & Board
$19,962/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,517/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
55%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Sacramento (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sacramento's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Sacramento adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Sacramento
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Sacramento tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,488 | Private avg: $44,382
Sacramento avg aid: $16,517/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,800
vs HS diploma in Sacramento
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sacramento
$1,346,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,456,000) minus total education cost ($109,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Sacramento
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sacramento for Petroleum Engineering
Sacramento State University
public
$7,488/yr
$29,952 total
University of the Pacific
private
$52,584/yr
$210,336 total
William Jessup University
private
$36,180/yr
$144,720 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sacramento City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Sacramento
Sacramento offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sacramento 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
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Sacramento
Computer Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$92K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Sacramento — 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 Sacramento.