Petroleum Engineering Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$204K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Washington is approximately $73,000, growing to $204,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,900
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$1,760,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,898,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Petroleum Engineering
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Other Engineering Majors in Washington
Computer Engineering
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$120K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$73K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$117K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$117K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$114K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.