by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 25 U.S. colleges awarded 315 degrees and certificates in Mining & Petroleum Technology. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 35% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,450 one year after completing, rising to $87,741 after four years.
Mining and Petroleum Technology focuses on the removal of natural recourses, such as petroleum and coal. This is an essential technology for our modern world. A Mining or Petroleum Technician will use basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in the development and operation in mines, or natural oil and gas withdrawal.
If you decide to pursue this major you will take classes in Mining Safety, Basic Rigging for the Mines, Drilling and Completion, and Oil and Gas Gathering & Transportation. Within this major there are two concentrations, they are Mining Technology and Petroleum Technology. Both focus on mapping and site analysis, testing and sampling methods, instrument calibration, assay analysis, test equipment operation and maintenance. This major is offered as both a Bachelor's and Associate's degree, depending on which college you decide to choose.
A major in Mining & Petroleum Technology involves the study of Mining And Petroleum Technologies/technicians.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., mining & petroleum technology is a widely-pursued major, with 315 degrees awarded annually. 25 colleges award mining & petroleum technology degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 57.
By level, the 315 awards include 45 certificates, 111 associate degrees, 2 bachelor’s degrees and 62 master’s degrees.
Women earned 7% of mining & petroleum technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (21 of 315). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (240) and Hispanic or Latino (31), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees. It also ranks mining & petroleum technology schools within 2 states. In all, 25 colleges offer mining & petroleum technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common mining & petroleum technology credential is the associate degree: 111 of the 315 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to mining & petroleum technology call most for Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a mining & petroleum technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 45 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 111 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 62 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to mining & petroleum technology, at 52.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 52.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 17.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.6% |
| Master’s degree | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Mining & Petroleum Technology, with an average median salary of $85,595; the strongest outlook belongs to Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas, at 10.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Test Technician (Test Tech), Laser Specialist, High Pressure Operator and Gas System Operator.
The occupation related to mining & petroleum technology with the most projected jobs is Gas Plant Operators, at 418,964.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Plant Operators | 418,964 | 2.4% |
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | 82,987 | 10.8% |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 56,828 | 9.9% |
Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates earn a median $57,450 one year after completing their program, $87,741 after four years and $65,897 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,450 |
| 4 years | $87,741 |
| 5 years | $65,897 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to mining & petroleum technology is Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, with a median salary of $121,642.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $119,992 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $57,281 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $50,058 |
Mining & Petroleum Technology includes 2 concentrations that together award 315 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Petroleum Technology/Technician (254) and Mining Technology/Technician (61). It has 18 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 98,732 degrees a year; the largest are Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (13,228), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (12,892) and Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (12,771). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Technology/Technician | 254 |
| Mining Technology/Technician | 61 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
