Salary AI Book a Demo

Drilling Engineer Salary in California

How much does a Drilling Engineer make in California? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Drilling Engineer in California is $166,862 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

However, a Drilling Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $189,588
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $155,455 to $178,758
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $145,069
Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Drilling Engineer Job Openings in California

Key Factors That Influence Drilling Engineer Salaries

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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Engineer Salaries?

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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $122,166
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $143,573
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $164,383
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $205,672
  • Expert (over 8 years): $129,554
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Network Engineer III less than 1 year $122,166
Network Engineer IV 1-2 years $143,573
Drilling Engineer 2-4 years $164,383
Network Engineer VI 5-8 years $205,672
Network Engineering Supervisor over 8 years $129,554

How Do Drilling Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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:

  • District of Columbia: $167,497.
  • California: $166,862.
  • Massachusetts: $164,638.

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Engineer

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:

  • Los Angeles: $167,149
  • West Hollywood: $167,028
  • Dodgertown: $167,148

Drilling Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Drilling Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Drilling Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Drilling Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Drilling Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense $200,234 $96.0 20%
Financial Services $200,234 $96.0 20%
Pharmaceuticals $200,234 $96.0 20%
Software & Networking $200,234 $96.0 20%
Telecom $200,234 $96.0 20%

Drilling Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$155,455
Average $166,862/year
$178,758
$12,955
Average $13,905/month
$14,896
$2,990
Average $3,209/week
$3,438
$75
Average $80/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $178,758 $14,896 $3,438 $86
Average $166,862 $13,905 $3,209 $80
25th Percentile $155,455 $12,955 $2,990 $75

Find Your Next Drilling Engineer Job

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

  • Exelon | FOX VALLEY FACILITY, IL

    Engineer

    Exelon | FOX VALLEY FACILITY, IL

    Exelon Corporation, a leader in sustainable energy, is seeking a seasoned Sr Engineer to join our dynamic team in Chicago. This pivotal role is geared towa... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MALCOLM DRILLING CO INC | WASHINGTON, DC

    Project Manager

    MALCOLM DRILLING CO INC | WASHINGTON, DC

    Malcolm Drilling has been innovating and leading the deep foundation industry for over six decades. As part of our deep foundations, retention systems, and... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Stripe, Inc. | WASHINGTON, DC

    Software Engineer

    Stripe, Inc. | WASHINGTON, DC

    Who we are About Stripe Stripe, LLC. is a financial infrastructure platform for businesses. Millions of companies - from the world’s largest enterprises to... more

    6 Days Ago

  • MORSE Corp | WASHINGTON, DC

    Systems Engineer

    MORSE Corp | WASHINGTON, DC

    MORSE Corp is an employee owned, small business based in Cambridge, MA, Arlington, VA, and Seattle, WA with a history of fielding cutting-edge technology. ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Accenture Federal Services | WASHINGTON, DC

    Cloud Engineer

    Accenture Federal Services | WASHINGTON, DC

    At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. O... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Centurion Consulting Group, LLC | WASHINGTON, DC

    Platform Engineer

    Centurion Consulting Group, LLC | WASHINGTON, DC

    Job Description Join our Enterprise Hosting Services team at the forefront of secure, innovative hybrid infrastructure for one of the nation's most critica... more

    6 Days Ago

For Employees

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

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

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

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine 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