Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians vs Petroleum Engineers
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
$79,830
median annual salary
Petroleum Engineers
$141,280
median annual salary
Petroleum Engineers earns $61,450 more per year (43% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | Petroleum Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $79,830 | $141,280 |
| Median Hourly | $38.38/hr | $67.92/hr |
| Mean Salary | $86,330 | $153,560 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,730 | $78,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $120,440 | $228,790 |
| Total Employment | 9,060 | 18,970 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +8.1% | +1.3% |
| Annual Openings | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Education | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | Petroleum Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $105,910 | $129,660 | $-23,750 |
| Ohio | $76,750 | $108,070 | $-31,320 |
| New York | $62,650 | $95,210 | $-32,560 |
| Kansas | $76,130 | $118,020 | $-41,890 |
| Colorado | $124,290 | $167,540 | $-43,250 |
| California | $96,370 | $147,780 | $-51,410 |
| Texas | $83,320 | $153,200 | $-69,880 |
| Oklahoma | $59,070 | $142,470 | $-83,400 |
| Michigan | $46,620 | $131,250 | $-84,630 |
| Utah | $78,610 | $166,580 | $-87,970 |
| Alaska | $105,850 | $200,750 | $-94,900 |
Also Compare
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Common Questions
Which pays more, Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians or Petroleum Engineers?
Petroleum Engineers pays more, with a median annual salary of $141,280 compared to $79,830 — a difference of $61,450 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians has faster projected growth at 8.1% from 2023 to 2033, compared to 1.3% for Petroleum Engineers.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. Job outlook data comes from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023-2033.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.