Occupational Therapy Assistant
Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. – Columbus, OH
How much does a Drilling Engineer make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Drilling Engineer in the United States is $151,280 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.
However, a Drilling Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:
Drilling Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $162,065 | $13,505 | $3,117 | $78 |
| Average | $151,280 | $12,607 | $2,909 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $140,938 | $11,745 | $2,710 | $68 |
A Drilling Engineer'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Drilling Engineer'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Network Engineer III | less than 1 year | $110,758 |
| Network Engineer IV | 1-2 years | $130,166 |
| Drilling Engineer | 2-4 years | $149,033 |
| Network Engineer VI | 5-8 years | $186,466 |
| Network Engineering Supervisor | over 8 years | $117,456 |
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Drilling Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Drilling Engineer professionals enter the field with a high school 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 Drilling Engineer with a high school is between $138,031 and $144,546.
| Typical Education for Drilling Engineer | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Degree | 2.2% |
| High School | 22.7% |
| Associate's Degree | 9.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 45.4% |
| Master's Degree or MBA | 19.8% |
| JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent | 0.4% |
Understanding how a Drilling Engineer'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $162,065 | $13,505 | $3,117 | $78 |
| Average | $151,280 | $12,607 | $2,909 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $140,938 | $11,745 | $2,710 | $68 |
Salaries for a Drilling Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $121,577 in 2023 to around $117,121 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Drilling Engineer salary trends, click here.
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $121,577 |
| 2024 | $119,148 |
| 2025 | $117,121 |
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Drilling Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers: