Mining & Petroleum Technology

Types of Degrees Mining & Petroleum Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many mining & petroleum technology graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Associate Degree	171
Basic Certificate	169
Undergraduate Certificate	54
Bachelor’s Degree	16

What Mining & Petroleum Technology Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to mining & petroleum tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors

mining & petroleum tech majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - 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.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors

As you progress with your mining & petroleum tech degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Mining & Petroleum Technology Major?

People with a mining & petroleum tech degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Mechanical Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining	23.4%	$47,860

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Mining & Petroleum Technology?

Mining & Petroleum Technology runs middle of the road when it comes to popularity, ranking #42 out of all the trade school majors we track. In 2021, about 210 graduates completed their associate’s degree in this field. This major attracts more men than women. About 89% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of mining & petroleum tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	2
Black or African American	25
Hispanic or Latino	21
White	112
International Students	1
Other Races/Ethnicities	10

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Mining & Petroleum Tech. About 0.6% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• Saudi Arabia
• Congo

How Much Do Mining & Petroleum Technology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $52,780 to $65,720 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to mining & petroleum tech. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Mining & Petroleum Technology

Some careers associated with mining & petroleum tech require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

Find out what the typical degree level is for mining & petroleum tech careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	7.7%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	16.3%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	5.5%
Some College Courses	3.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	17.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	34.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.6%
Master’s Degree	13.3%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.3%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.0%

Online Mining & Petroleum Technology Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	21	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	32	1
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Mining & Petroleum Technology Worth It?

The median salary for a mining & petroleum tech grad is $62,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 58% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $459,800 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Mining & Petroleum Technology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to mining & petroleum tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Industrial Production Technology	11,288
Electromechanical Engineering Technology	10,780
Environmental Control Technology	9,376
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology	8,822
Electronics Engineering Technology	8,347
Engineering-Related Fields	6,553
Mechanical Engineering Technology	6,205
Construction Engineering Technology	4,299
General Engineering Technology	3,841
Quality Control Technology	3,720
Computer Engineering Technology	3,509
Engineering Technology (Other)	1,907
Energy Systems Technologies	1,277
Architectural Engineering Technology	1,239
Civil Engineering Technology	1,155
Engineering-Related Technologies	969
Nuclear Engineering Technology	235
Nanotechnology	104

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Jeffrey Beall under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.