Petroleum Engineering Degree in Salt Lake City, UT — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Salt Lake City, UT. 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
6.4 yrs
in Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Salt Lake City, UT Overview
While Salt Lake City has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Petroleum Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $17,800/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Salt Lake City is approximately $56,000, growing to $156,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,222/yr
Private Tuition
$38,396/yr
Room & Board
$17,800/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,636/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Salt Lake City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salt Lake City'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.Salt Lake City adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Salt Lake City
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Salt Lake City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,222 | Private avg: $38,396
Salt Lake City avg aid: $10,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,800
vs HS diploma in Salt Lake City
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salt Lake City
$1,347,912
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,456,000) minus total education cost ($108,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Salt Lake City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salt Lake City for Petroleum Engineering
University of Utah
public
$9,222/yr
$36,888 total
Westminster University
private
$38,396/yr
$153,584 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Salt Lake Community College
$4,116/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salt Lake City Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Utah Cities
West Valley City, UT
$49K starting · COL 98.5
6 colleges
West Jordan, UT
$50K starting · COL 99.8
5 colleges
Provo, UT
$65K starting · COL 130
7 colleges
Orem, UT
$61K starting · COL 122
4 colleges
Sandy, UT
$52K starting · COL 103.8
4 colleges
St. George, UT
$63K starting · COL 125
2 colleges
Ogden, UT
$52K starting · COL 103
5 colleges
Layton, UT
$49K starting · COL 97.8
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Salt Lake City
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
Architectural Engineering
$87K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Salt Lake City — 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 Salt Lake City.