by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Petroleum Technology/Technician covers Petroleum Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers And Other Professionals Engaged In The Development And Operation Of Oil And Natural Gas Extraction And Processing Facilities. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Petroleum Extraction And Related Geology, Petroleum Field Mapping And Site Analysis, Testing And Sampling Methods, Instrument Calibration, Laboratory Analysis, Test Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Environment And Safety Monitoring Procedures For Oil/gas Fields And Facilities, Facility Inspection Procedures, And Report Preparation. Read on to learn the important information every petroleum technology/technician student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering petroleum technology/technician programs.
In the U.S., petroleum technology/technician draws strong interest, with 294 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Petroleum Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for petroleum technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of petroleum technology/technician programs later in this article.
Studies in Petroleum Technology/Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations petroleum technology/technician graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a petroleum technology/technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a petroleum technology/technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several petroleum technology/technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 51 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 101 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 56 |
People currently working in careers related to petroleum technology/technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 58.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 31.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in petroleum technology/technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying petroleum technology/technician opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to petroleum technology/technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to petroleum technology/technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Plant Operators | 418,964 | 2.4% |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 56,828 | 9.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of petroleum technology/technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,450 |
| 4 years | $58,393 |
| 5 years | $65,518 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for petroleum technology/technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers petroleum technology/technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $119,992 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $57,281 |
With 28 different petroleum technology/technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased petroleum technology/technician school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in petroleum technology/technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mining Technology/Technician | 29 |
| Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
