Drilling Engineer vs Production Engineer

Side-by-side career comparison in oil & gas

Drilling Engineer Production Engineer
Average Salary Not listed $148,145 - $181,479
BLS Median $130,850 (BLS median) $130,850 (BLS median)
Open Positions 3 11
Education B.S. in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field B.S. in Petroleum Engineering or Chemical Engineering
Key Certifications
PE License (recommended) IWCF Well Control OSHA 30-Hour
PE License (recommended) Well Control Certification
Top Skills
Top Hiring Companies
Experience Levels Entry Level: 2, Senior Level: 1 Entry Level: 9, Senior Level: 2
Career Path Entry Level → Mid Level → Senior → Lead/Principal View full career path → Entry Level → Mid Level → Senior → Lead/Principal View full career path →

Which Is Right for You?

Choose Drilling Engineer if you...

  • Have a background in Petroleum Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
  • Are interested in drilling and related technologies
  • Want to work at companies like Occidental
Browse 3 Drilling Engineer jobs →

Choose Production Engineer if you...

  • Have a background in Petroleum Engineering
  • Are interested in production optimization and related technologies
  • Want to work at companies like Crescent Energy
Browse 11 Production Engineer jobs →

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