Petroleum Engineering Degree in Tampa, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Tampa, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$141K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Tampa
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Tampa, FL Overview
Tampa is one of Florida's top college towns, with 26 institutions and a student population of 30,905. Public tuition averages $5,955/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 Tampa is approximately $50,500, growing to $141,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
26
Public Tuition
$5,955/yr
Private Tuition
$31,226/yr
Room & Board
$9,194/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,836/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
47%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Tampa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tampa's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Tampa adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Tampa
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Tampa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,955 | Private avg: $31,226
Tampa avg aid: $14,836/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$60,596
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,150
vs HS diploma in Tampa
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tampa
$1,252,404
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,313,000) minus total education cost ($60,596)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Tampa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tampa for Petroleum Engineering
University of South Florida
public
$6,410/yr
$25,640 total
University of Tampa
private
$31,226/yr
$124,904 total
Tampa General Hospital
public
$5,500/yr
$22,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hillsborough Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Tampa
Tampa offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tampa 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
Orlando, FL
$48K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$49K starting · COL 97
22 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 Tampa
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Tampa — 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 Tampa.