Petroleum Engineering Degree in San Jose, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for San Jose, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$181K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.7 yrs
in San Jose
Cost of Living
129
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in San Jose, CA Overview
San Jose is one of California's top college towns, with 95 institutions and a student population of 81,386. Public tuition averages $7,852/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 San Jose is approximately $64,500, growing to $180,600 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
95
Public Tuition
$7,852/yr
Private Tuition
$35,631/yr
Room & Board
$14,803/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,202/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
48%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in San Jose (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Jose's cost of living index of 129 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.San Jose adjustment factor: 1.29x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for San Jose
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local San Jose tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,852 | Private avg: $35,631
San Jose avg aid: $9,202/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,620
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,350
vs HS diploma in San Jose
ROI Payback Period
4.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Jose
$1,586,380
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,677,000) minus total education cost ($90,620)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in San Jose
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Jose for Petroleum Engineering
San Jose State University
public
$7,852/yr
$31,408 total
Santa Clara University
private
$57,942/yr
$231,768 total
National University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Jose City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in San Jose
San Jose offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Jose 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 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
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in San Jose
Computer Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$106K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$103K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$101K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in San Jose — 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 San Jose.