Specifically to the office jobs, is the salary that much better in O&G? I'm still relatively young in my career, only worked O&G with one company, but one thing I always here is "how much better the salary is". I have friends that work in Houston at Big 4 (paid pennies but exits/upward seem to be when they make a huge jump), commercial real estate, software, medical supply chain, and they all seem to be doing fine - some way more than fine.

Anecdotally, I do feel like I had a slightly higher salary at graduation, but feel like after 5 years the playing field has been evened out to friends in other industries.

Have any of you left O&G and kept relatively the same pay, or came back out ahead after a few years?

I work in safety/DOT/compliance. Been O&G since I graduated A&M except for 9 months in concrete/construction. Construction paid me more than O&G in terms of take home pay but the benefits didn't compare to oil and gas. Overall longevity with benefits and 401k matches and stuff....the compensation packages were quite similar.

I'd say it's higher on average for engineers. Not sure about other fields, but I'd assume an accountant at a big 4 is going to make the same or more than an accountant at a big engineering firm.

I guess to clarify, yes, I was speaking from a non-engineering role.

The benefits do seem pretty solid, between HSA's, 401k, pensions, etc. still interested in hearing folks experiences. Thanks for sharing.

Depending on the position, volatility in O&G could be a factor. There seems to be a lot quick expansion followed by quick contraction.

O&G was largely insulated by very high crude prices from the "cut-costs-at-all-costs" culture that hit most companies in the 2000s. That made O&G a very high paying sector by comparison to most others, especially for entry-level employees. But the bust of 2014 hit hard, and O&G companies adopted that culture quickly out of necessity. I'm not sure there's a whole lot of difference anymore between O&G and other sectors, and personally I doubt there ever will be again.

O&G pays very well...when you are employed. The problem is the cyclical nature. It does well, you do well. It sucks, you get laid off.

Engineering yes. Most other roles, not especially.

Think the only two portions of O&G that pay more is engineering and the field guys. Engineers, because no one is going thru all that hellacious school to enter a cyclical sector unless the up years make up for the down years. And field guys because time is obviously money.

I perform inspection work. The pay in O&G is many times higher than the same inspection work performed in other sectors. However as has been previously stated the volatile market transitions into layoffs in a hurry

For a non-degreed person CAD in O&G is >>>>> CAD in any other field. I've seen several retire comfortably after a CAD career in O&G.

Are you assuming your friends do well by the size of their houses, the male of their car and the amount of stuff they have? If so, then I am certain several of them are living outside of their means.

The real "money" is in bonus windfalls. If you aren't in a structure for those then the pay is just whatever.

Don't compare industry salaries to public accounting salaries early in careers, industry will always pay more than public accounting for the first few years.

That's why I said in parenthesis that they seem to start at pennies and eventually either move upward or exit to industry 5+ years later and that's when the big bump is expected.

It used to be, but I don't think it is really the case anymore and the volatility in general is making it not worth the trouble. I'd be very surprised if O&G doesn't have a problem finding young talent as the years go on. Probably already the case.

I am not in O&G but I don't think the future is good. Better to find another industry.

Reminds me of prom night back in high school.

I get that, but these are friends that I'm friends enough with that I know they are doing well (some extremely well), but I'm not asking their specific salary numbers.

OT is great and the benefits.

Feast or famine.

Got friends and family that absolutely kill it when oil is $60+ / barrel

Things are OK $60-40

Anything less and laid off or own company and dumping own money in to keep it alive.

I'll throw my two cents in. I've worked in oil and gas and outside of oil and gas. Oil and gas typically pays more than other industries other than tech. I've made similar money outside of oil and gas but what oil had was the nice bonuses and benefits/retirement.

For example I used to work for a mid size oil and gas operator in HR. 4 years out of college in an individual contributor role I had a 20% bonus, pension, and 8% 401k match. That type of package just doesn't exist in too many other industries/companies for a juniorish individual contributor role. A few years ago I left the industry and went to work for another company outside of oil, I had a nice base salary but zero bonus, and 2% 401k match.

But yes the volatility in oil and gas sucks which is why they typically pay higher. Although funny enough I was always able to survive oil and gas layoffs, but I did get laid off from my non oil job last year due to covid lol. There's really no such thing as a stable/safe company or industry anymore.

PeekingDuck said:

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I'd be very surprised if O&G doesn't have a problem finding young talent as the years go on. Probably already the case.

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Definitely true for positions outside of petroleum engineering, geology, etc. O&G needs technical skills and young graduates don't want to work in the industry.

I have worked downstream, midstream, and upstream and each move came with much better overall compensation as well as much more volatility. Currently with a midstream operator and I can say I definitely make way more than any job I ever had outside of O&G. Life guarding, mowing lawns, and reffing intramural soccer just wasn't cutting it.

The money is better for environmental jobs in O&G as well. Plus, if you don't mind the volatility and work for a small company, the likelihood of an acquisition can create the possibility for a very large retention bonus. This is a win win since you know how long you have to find another job.

I work in "O&G" construction and services.


The mid level pay is much better than other industries...but there is no upside to staying longer...you'll be paid the same at age 27 as 57. I went from a Project Manager to exec and have been making same money from age 29 to 38. I was rich at 29...now just scratching my head and wondering who gets paid more around here year over year. Even switched jobs at one point to make more (bonuses were cut in 2016 and still same money as 2013.)


From what i gather that is different than other industries.

coolerguy12 said:

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I have worked downstream, midstream, and upstream and each move came with much better overall compensation as well as much more volatility. Currently with a midstream operator and I can say I definitely make way more than any job I ever had outside of O&G. Life guarding, mowing lawns, and reffing intramural soccer just wasn't cutting it.

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The old adage is "The closer to the wellhead you are, the more money you're making"

I'd make it a bit more broad and say energy overall rather than just O&G

I've worked in various procurement roles for different O&G companies in upstream, midstream, and downstream. The pay is a little better than typical manufacturing and commercial construction companies and a little worse than high tech companies like Amazon and Apple. Someone else mentioned it, but the hours that some people work in this business really afford them a nice lifestyle (when they have time to enjoy it).

I know one pipeline company that apparently hires pretty mediocre IT guys.

Was attending UT's graduation this weekend (bad ag alert did my MBA at UT!!!), I was surprised when they announced the Geoscience school only like 9 people stood up. Obviously that's a bit niche and misses PE, Mech Eng, Etc. under the engineering college, but I have to say if I was in UG I would not stay in something super oriented towards O&G

jeromePOWell said:

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Was attending UT's graduation this weekend (bad ag alert did my MBA at UT!!!), I was surprised when they announced the Geoscience school only like 9 people stood up. Obviously that's a bit niche and misses PE, Mech Eng, Etc. under the engineering college, but I have to say if I was in UG I would not stay in something super oriented towards O&G

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I know a lady (quite attractive BTW) who just graduated as a PETE from UT and got no offers in the industry. But she got an offer from an investment bank type outfit in NYC and took it. I don't know her exact grade point, but she was probably not top-notch. Also, don't know what salary she got in NYC. Just one data point (actually 1/2 data point).

It's a terrible time to be a PETE major. I know multiple people that graduated with that degree who ended up just getting an MBA and going into business/finance positions.

I initially intended to be a petroleum engineer when I came to A&M in 2014. Then oil took a **** and I jumped around til I found my beloved Mays Business School