upper level job

Petroleum Geologist V Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Petroleum Geologist V in the United States is $253,061 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $122.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $276,009
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $249,479 to $265,073
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $246,218
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $249,479 10% $246,218 90% $276,009 75% $265,073 $253,061 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Petroleum Geologist V Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $265,073 $22,089 $5,098 $127
Average $253,061 $21,088 $4,867 $122
25th Percentile $249,479 $20,790 $4,798 $120
Check out Petroleum Geologist V Job Openings in the United States
Travel L&D RN

Focus Staff - KEENE, NH

Travel CCU RN

Focus Staff - BENNINGTON, VT

Physical Therapist Physical Therapy Assistant

Flex Therapy - WASILLA, AK

Occupational Therapist

United Health Services - JOHNSON CITY, NY

Search More Petroleum Geologist V Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Petroleum Geologist V Salaries

A Petroleum Geologist V'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 V'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 II (2-4 years): $145,076
  • Petroleum Geologist III (4-7 years): $165,698
  • Petroleum Geologist IV (7+ years): $211,302
  • Petroleum Geologist V (7-10 years): $253,061
  • Petroleum Geologist Manager (10+ years): $201,991
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Petroleum Geologist II2-4 years$145,076
Petroleum Geologist III4-7 years$165,698
Petroleum Geologist IV7+ years$211,302
Petroleum Geologist V7-10 years$253,061
Petroleum Geologist Manager10+ years$201,991
$145,076 Petroleum...
$165,698 Petroleum...
$211,302 Petroleum...
$253,061 Petroleum...
$201,991 Petroleum...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Petroleum Geologist Vs

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: $319,186
  • San Francisco: $315,691
  • Oakland: $309,038

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 20% 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 5.71% 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 5.71% 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%
Data Analysis 5.71%
Oil and Gas Exploration 5.71%
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 V's salary.
  • Geology: Can increase your salary by up to 0%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Geology
$253,061
0%
Get Latest Data

Petroleum Geologist V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Petroleum Geologist V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $294,493. While startup companies pay approximate $249,277.

Petroleum Geologist V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$249,277
Growth Stage51~500$263,566
Established501~5000$284,476
Enterprise5000+$294,493

How Education impacts a Petroleum Geologist V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Petroleum Geologist Vs 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 V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $240,943 and $250,180).

Petroleum Geologist V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Petroleum Geologist V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 60.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 60.0%
Doctorate 20.0%
view as graph

Petroleum Geologist V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Petroleum Geologist V'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 July 01, 2026

Petroleum Geologist V Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Petroleum Geologist V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Petroleum Geologist Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $201,991 - a projected growth of -20% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Petroleum Geologist V

Salaries for a Petroleum Geologist V can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $166,173 in 2023 to around $140,291 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Petroleum Geologist V salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Petroleum Geologist V Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$166,173
2024
$150,274
2025
$140,291
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $166,173
2024 $150,274
2025 $140,291
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Petroleum Geologist V

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Petroleum Geologist V

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

Find Your Next Petroleum Geologist V Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Petroleum Geologist V

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

A Petroleum Geologist V'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 V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Petroleum Geologist V is $319,186.

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

The highest pay for Petroleum Geologist V is $276,009.

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

The lowest pay for Petroleum Geologist V is $246,218.

4. What are the responsibilities of Petroleum Geologist V?

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. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job