by our College Data Analytics TeamPetroleum Technology/Technician was the 780th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 434 degrees in this year alone. This 145 less than the prior year, a decrease of 33.4%.
Our 2023 Best Petroleum Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes 11 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for petroleum technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of petroleum tech programs later in this article.
Petroleum Technology/Technician majors are found most commonly in careers in which using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is important. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most petroleum tech degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic petroleum technology/technician program qualifications, to serve in some petroleum tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different petroleum tech degree levels. Petroleum Technology/Technician programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest petroleum tech degree you can get. The type of petroleum tech degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to petroleum tech, with approximately 40.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for petroleum tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.6% |
| Some College Courses | 7.4% |
| High School Diploma | 6.3% |
69.2% of petroleum tech workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in petroleum technology/technician have received.
This of course varies depending on which petroleum tech career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your petroleum tech degree? Petroleum Technology/Technician careers are expected to grow 16.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to petroleum technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geological and Petroleum Technicians | 17,400 | 16.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for petroleum tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for petroleum technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers petroleum tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Geological and Petroleum Technicians | $62,890 |
With over 64 different petroleum tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased petroleum tech school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Mining & Petroleum Technology area of study, Petroleum Technology/Technician has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mining Technology/Technician | 8 |
| Other Mining & Petroleum Technologies | 3 |
Image Credit: By Jeffrey Beall under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
