Senior Drilling Engineer+31% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
75% of observed moves out of Petroleum Engineer I go here (4,200 careers)
progressionconfidence high4,200 careers86% of observed exits move upward from there
Observed career paths · petroleum_engineering
Where does a Petroleum Engineer I go next?
6 observed directions, from real career histories. Percentages are the share of people who made each move; the count is how many careers each number rests on. This is the generic map. No aspiration, no filler.
Typical advancement
Management path
Lead Reservoir Engineer+67% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
25% of observed moves out of Petroleum Engineer I go here (1,400 careers)
leadership branchconfidence high1,400 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there
Engineering Manager, Upstream+125% typical comp change · ~6.0y typical
reachable via Senior Drilling Engineer. 16% joint share of observed careers
leadership branchconfidence high1,400 careers84% of observed exits move upward from there
Higher-growth opportunity
Director of Subsurface+222% typical comp change · ~6.0y typical
reachable via Lead Reservoir Engineer. 6% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence high1,400 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Career pivot
Senior Geotechnical Engineer+1% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Senior Drilling Engineer. 5% joint share of observed careers
pivotconfidence moderate460 careers86% of observed exits move upward from there
Second Engineer+6% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Senior Drilling Engineer. 5% joint share of observed careers
pivotconfidence moderate460 careers75% of observed exits move upward from there