Petroleum Engineering Degree in St. Petersburg, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for St. Petersburg, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in St. Petersburg, FL Overview
St. Petersburg is one of Florida's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 17,306. Public tuition averages $10,405/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 St. Petersburg is approximately $48,500, growing to $135,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$10,405/yr
Private Tuition
$48,010/yr
Room & Board
$9,763/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,802/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
48%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in St. Petersburg (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Petersburg's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.St. Petersburg adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for St. Petersburg
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local St. Petersburg tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,405 | Private avg: $48,010
St. Petersburg avg aid: $8,802/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,672
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,550
vs HS diploma in St. Petersburg
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Petersburg
$1,180,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,261,000) minus total education cost ($80,672)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in St. Petersburg
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Petersburg for Petroleum Engineering
Eckerd College
private
$48,010/yr
$192,040 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
St. Petersburg College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Petersburg Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$59K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$51K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$48K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$39K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$49K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$49K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in St. Petersburg
Computer Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$49K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in St. Petersburg — 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 St. Petersburg.