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Hourly Wage for Drilling Engineer I Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Drilling Engineer I?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Drilling Engineer I in the United States is $56, which translates to an annual salary of about $116,551.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $64 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50 to $60 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Drilling Engineer I Salaries

A Drilling Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Engineer I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Drilling Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Drilling Engineer I (0-2 years): $116,551
  • Drilling Engineer II (2-4 years): $137,143
  • Drilling Engineer III (4-7 years): $169,949
  • Drilling Engineer IV (7+ years): $189,179
  • Drilling Engineer V (7-10 years): $225,929
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Drilling Engineer I0-2 years$116,551
Drilling Engineer II2-4 years$137,143
Drilling Engineer III4-7 years$169,949
Drilling Engineer IV7+ years$189,179
Drilling Engineer V7-10 years$225,929
View as Graph

How Do Drilling Engineer Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Drilling Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $129,045.
  • California: $128,556.
  • Massachusetts: $126,842.

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Engineer I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $147,006
  • San Francisco: $145,396
  • Oakland: $142,332

What Skills Can Increase a Drilling Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.7% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • FOCUS (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): Focus is the thinking skill that allows people to begin a task without procrastination and then maintain their attention and effort until the task is complete.
  • Safety Management (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): Applying safety principles, framework, processes, and measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and other adverse consequences.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.7%
FOCUS 2.61%
Safety Management 2.61%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Drilling Engineer I's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Continuous Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $152,682
31%
Customer Satisfaction $141,027
21%
Continuous Learning $137,530
18%
Get Latest Data

Drilling Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Drilling Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $135,803. While startup companies pay approximate $115,008.

Drilling Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $115,008
Growth Stage 51~500 $121,599
Established 501~5000 $131,191
Enterprise 5000+ $135,803

Drilling Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Drilling Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 52% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Finance & Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Drilling Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Drilling Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Drilling Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$151,516$73.030%
Finance & Insurance$145,689$70.025%
Information Technology$139,861$67.020%
Mining$134,034$64.015%
Professional Services$122,379$59.05%

How Education impacts an Drilling Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Drilling Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Drilling Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $104,752 and $109,625.

Drilling Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Drilling Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.9%
High School 3.9%
Associates 35.3%
Bachelors 60.8%
Masters 35.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Drilling Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Drilling Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$104,253
Average $116,551/year
$124,975
$8,688
Average $9,713/month
$10,415
$2,005
Average $2,241/week
$2,403
$50
Average $56/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,975 $10,415 $2,403 $60
Average $116,551 $9,713 $2,241 $56
25th Percentile $104,253 $8,688 $2,005 $50

Most common benefits for Drilling Engineer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Drilling Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Drilling Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Drilling Engineer I

1. What are the responsibilities of Drilling Engineer I?

Designs, plans, and oversees drilling operations of oil and gas wells. Performs design evaluations and makes recommendations to improve safety, lower cost, and increase efficiency. Analyzes data to identify trends, assess performance, and make adjustments to improve future drilling operations. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Drilling Engineer I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

FOCUS: Focus is the thinking skill that allows people to begin a task without procrastination and then maintain their attention and effort until the task is complete.

3.)

Safety Management: Applying safety principles, framework, processes, and measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and other adverse consequences.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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