SOC code 17-2171
There have been 45 US Department of Labor LCA filings for Petroleum Engineers on the E-3 visa across all available fiscal years, with 88.9% certified. The median annualized wage is $210,965. The top sponsor is Chevron, with most positions based in TX.
All sponsoring employers
18 distinct employers have filed E-3 LCAs for Petroleum Engineers. Search or sort below.
| Employer | Filings | Cert rate | Median wage | Top state | Top city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron | 10 | 90.0% | $234,661 | TX | Houston |
| Broken Hill Proprietary (USA) | 6 | 83.3% | $221,645 | TX | Houston |
| Oil Search (Alaska) | 4 | 100.0% | $190,000 | AK | Anchorage |
| Onestep Power Solutions | 4 | 100.0% | $166,400 | TX | Houston |
| Woodside Energy USA Services | 4 | 100.0% | $296,950 | TX | Houston |
| Edwards Energy | 3 | 66.7% | $139,500 | LA | Shreveport |
| Antech Oilfield Services | 2 | 100.0% | $121,480 | AK | Anchorage |
| Gunnar | 2 | 100.0% | $200,000 | CA | Bakersfield |
| Ascent Resources Management Services | 1 | 100.0% | $243,500 | OK | Oklahoma City |
| Blade Energy Partners | 1 | 100.0% | $192,492 | TX | Houston |
| Bp America | 1 | 100.0% | $106,288 | TX | Houston |
| Kosmos Energy | 1 | 100.0% | $256,860 | TX | Dallas |
| Liberty Oilfield Services | 1 | 100.0% | $95,500 | ND | Williston |
| Schlumberger Technology | 1 | 0.0% | $181,350 | AK | Anchorage |
| The Global Edge Consultants | 1 | 100.0% | $195,000 | TX | The Woodlands |
| Venture Global Lng | 1 | 100.0% | $183,186 | TX | Houston |
| Weatherford International | 1 | 100.0% | $78,083 | LA | Broussard |
| Wood Group USA | 1 | 0.0% | $190,012 | TX | Houston |
Top states
Where Petroleum Engineers E-3 jobs are concentrated.
| State | Filings | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 29 (64.4%) | $221,645 |
| AK | 6 (13.3%) | $180,675 |
| LA | 6 (13.3%) | $139,500 |
| CA | 2 (4.4%) | $200,000 |
| ND | 1 (2.2%) | $95,500 |
| OK | 1 (2.2%) | $243,500 |
Top cities
Cities where Petroleum Engineers E-3 jobs are filed.
| City | State | Filings | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | TX | 26 | $221,645 |
| Anchorage | AK | 5 | $180,000 |
| Shreveport | LA | 3 | $139,500 |
| Bakersfield | CA | 2 | $200,000 |
| Covington | LA | 2 | $217,680 |
| Anchorage, | AK | 1 | $240,000 |
| Broussard | LA | 1 | $78,083 |
| Dallas | TX | 1 | $256,860 |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 1 | $243,500 |
| Seguin | TX | 1 | $114,000 |
| The Woodlands | TX | 1 | $195,000 |
| Williston | ND | 1 | $95,500 |
Job titles within this role
The actual job titles employers used in their filings. Useful when the SOC label is generic — e.g. "CEO" / "Chief Executive Officer" both fall under Chief Executives.
| Job title | Filings |
|---|---|
| Principal Reservoir Engineer | 4 |
| Principal Petroleum Engineer | 4 |
| Senior Petroleum Engineering Advisor | 3 |
| COMPLETION ENGINEER | 3 |
| Senior Drilling Engineer | 2 |
| RANGING AND INTERCEPT ENGINEER | 2 |
| Principal III Reservoir Engineer | 2 |
| Director of Productions Operations | 2 |
| Directional Driller | 2 |
| AD Petrophysical Advisor | 2 |
| UPSTREAM DIGITAL ADVISOR | 1 |
| Senior Principal Consultant - KBGFJG288740-1 | 1 |
| Senior Petroleum Engineer, Exploration Assurance | 1 |
| Senior Engineering Advisor | 1 |
| Ready for Operations (RFO) Advisor | 1 |
| Product Line Manager | 1 |
| Principal Project Engineer III | 1 |
| Principal III Production Engineer | 1 |
| Petroleum Engineer | 1 |
| Head of Production Engineering | 1 |
| Field Engineer III | 1 |
| Field Engineer 1 | 1 |
| Director of Operations Services | 1 |
| Director -- Resource Development | 1 |
| Decision Analyst | 1 |
| DRILLING SUPERINTENDENT | 1 |
| Completion Engineer | 1 |
| CCS Reservoir Engineering Lead | 1 |
| Product Line Manager | 1 |
Filings by fiscal year
Year-over-year trend in E-3 LCA filings for Petroleum Engineers. DOL's fiscal year runs October–September.
| FY | Filings | Cert rate | Median wage | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 11 | 100.0% | $215,467 | |
| FY2021 | 1 | 100.0% | $168,914 | |
| FY2022 | 8 | 75.0% | $192,492 | |
| FY2023 | 6 | 100.0% | $169,582 | |
| FY2024 | 7 | 71.4% | $256,462 | |
| FY2025 | 8 | 100.0% | $200,000 | |
| FY2026 | 4 | 75.0% | $273,838 |
Frequently asked questions
How many Petroleum Engineers have been sponsored on the E-3 visa?
There have been 45 Labor Condition Application filings for Petroleum Engineers on the E-3 visa across all available fiscal years, with 88.9% of applications certified by the US Department of Labor.
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers on the E-3 visa?
The median annualized wage for Petroleum Engineers on the E-3 visa is $210,965, based on certified LCA filings. Wage outliers above $2 million are excluded from this calculation.
Which employers sponsor the most Petroleum Engineers on the E-3 visa?
The top E-3 visa sponsors of Petroleum Engineers are: Chevron (10 filings), Broken Hill Proprietary (USA) (6 filings), Oil Search (Alaska) (4 filings). The full list of sponsoring employers is shown above.
Where are E-3 visa petroleum engineers based in the US?
Most E-3 visa filings for Petroleum Engineers are based in: TX (29 filings), AK (6 filings), LA (6 filings).
Can Australians work as petroleum engineers on the E-3 visa?
Yes. The E-3 visa is exclusive to Australian citizens and is one of the most common visa categories for skilled professionals working in the United States. Petroleum Engineers is regularly sponsored under the E-3 visa, as the data on this page shows.
