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Petroleum Geologist II Salary in the United States

How much does a Petroleum Geologist II make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Petroleum Geologist II in the United States is $144,962 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

However, a Petroleum Geologist II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $165,645
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $129,285 to $155,788
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,012
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View as table View as graph 25% $129,285 10% $115,012 90% $165,645 75% $155,788 $144,962 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Petroleum Geologist II Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $155,788 $12,982 $2,996 $75
Average $144,962 $12,080 $2,788 $70
25th Percentile $129,285 $10,774 $2,486 $62
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Key Factors That Influence Petroleum Geologist II Salaries

A Petroleum Geologist II'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 Petroleum Geologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Petroleum Geologist II'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:

  • Petroleum Geologist I (0-2 years): $121,161
  • Petroleum Geologist II (2-4 years): $144,962
  • Petroleum Geologist III (4-7 years): $165,580
  • Petroleum Geologist IV (7+ years): $211,168
  • Petroleum Geologist V (7-10 years): $252,920
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Petroleum Geologist I0-2 years$121,161
Petroleum Geologist II2-4 years$144,962
Petroleum Geologist III4-7 years$165,580
Petroleum Geologist IV7+ years$211,168
Petroleum Geologist V7-10 years$252,920
$121,161 Petroleum...
$144,962 Petroleum...
$165,580 Petroleum...
$211,168 Petroleum...
$252,920 Petroleum...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Petroleum Geologist IIs

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: $182,841
  • San Francisco: $180,839
  • Oakland: $177,028

What Skills Can Increase a Petroleum Geologist II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 20.24% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
  • Oil and Gas Exploration (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for deposits of hydrocarbons, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth using petroleum geology.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 20.24%
Data Analysis 5.95%
Oil and Gas Exploration 5.95%
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 Petroleum Geologist II's salary.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Geographic Information System: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation
$168,156
16%
Geographic Information System
$160,908
11%
Problem Solving
$158,009
9%
Hydraulics
$152,210
5%
Data Analysis
$152,210
5%
Research and Development
$152,210
5%
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How Education impacts a Petroleum Geologist II's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Petroleum Geologist II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $134,959 and $142,092).

Petroleum Geologist II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Petroleum Geologist II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 25.0%
High School 75.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 25.0%
Masters 75.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Petroleum Geologist II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Petroleum Geologist II'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 May 01, 2026

Petroleum Geologist II Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Petroleum Geologist II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Petroleum Geologist III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $165,580 - a projected growth of 14% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Petroleum Geologist II

Salaries for a Petroleum Geologist II can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $94,989 in 2023 to around $87,735 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Petroleum Geologist II salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Petroleum Geologist II Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$94,989
2024
$89,752
2025
$87,735
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $94,989
2024 $89,752
2025 $87,735
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Petroleum Geologist II

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Petroleum Geologist II

Here are companies hiring for Petroleum Geologist II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Petroleum Geologist II job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Petroleum Geologist II

1. Where can a Petroleum Geologist II earn the most?

A Petroleum Geologist II's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Petroleum Geologist II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Petroleum Geologist II is $182,841.

2. What is the highest pay for Petroleum Geologist II?

The highest pay for Petroleum Geologist II is $165,645.

3. What is the lowest pay for Petroleum Geologist II?

The lowest pay for Petroleum Geologist II is $115,012.

4. What are the responsibilities of Petroleum Geologist II?

Studies and examines variations in rock formations and mineral samples to identify and manage gas and oil deposits. Collects samples and utilizes seismic imaging, geological surveys, and subsurface mapping technologies to survey and assess potential drilling locations. Determines optimal locations for drilling wells, recommends methods for extracting oil and gas, and troubleshoots and resolves problems that arise during drilling operations. Interprets analyses, field tests, and lab results to estimate the quality, size, and depth of carbon deposits. Analyzes the integrity of wells to determine the feasibility of drilling. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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