2025 salary snapshot of strategic roles in the Nigerian oil and gas sector

Michael Adesina

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector remains one of the country’s most lucrative professional landscapes, fueled by deepwater exploration, LNG expansion, and growing international investment.

Petroleum Engineers consistently rank among the top-compensated technical professionals, reflecting their critical role in offshore drilling, reservoir management, and project optimization.

The median annual pay for Petroleum Engineers is ₦32 million, with the top 10% earning as much as ₦42 million. Dr. Chinyere Okonkwo, an industry analyst at a leading petroleum consultancy, notes: “Petroleum Engineers are at the core of operational success in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Their pay reflects both the technical skill required and the risk inherent in offshore projects.”

Salary Overview (₦/Year)
• Petroleum Engineer: Median ₦32M, Top 10% ₦42M

• Drilling Engineer: Median ₦30M, Top 10% ₦40M

• Subsea Engineer: Median ₦38M, Top 10% ₦44M

• LNG Operations Lead: Median ₦35M, Top 10% ₦43M

• Senior Project Manager: Median ₦37M, Top 10% ₦45M

• Reservoir Engineer: Median ₦28M, Top 10% ₦41M

• Geoscientist: Median ₦25M, Top 10% ₦39M

• HSE Manager (Offshore): Median ₦33M, Top 10% ₦40.5M

• Production Manager: Median ₦37.5M, Top 10% ₦43.5M

• Well Site Supervisor: Median ₦29M, Top 10% ₦38.5M

Drivers of High Compensation
Petroleum Engineers benefit from a combination of advanced technical skills, operational risk exposure, and strategic responsibilities. Engineers proficient in reservoir simulation software and enhanced oil recovery techniques are in high demand. Offshore operations, particularly high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells, carry inherent risks, often resulting in hazard allowances and rotational incentives.

Mr. Adebayo Lawal, HR Director at a multinational energy firm, explains: “Offshore engineers are not just executing technical tasks—they are managing teams, making critical decisions, and safeguarding multi-billion-dollar assets. Their compensation reflects these responsibilities.”

Certain roles, such as Subsea Engineers and Senior Project Managers, slightly exceed Petroleum Engineers in top-decile pay, reflecting the premium attached to project delivery and offshore specialization. Performance-linked incentives and rotational schedules further enhance total remuneration.

Analysis
The data indicates that Nigeria’s Petroleum Engineers and other upstream specialists remain among the country’s most highly rewarded professionals. Median salaries of ₦32 million and top-tier earnings of ₦42 million place these engineers well above the national median for technical roles. The premium pay reflects the increasing complexity of Nigeria’s oil and gas operations, including deepwater exploration, LNG development, and multi-disciplinary project management. Risk exposure, technical expertise, and leadership responsibilities collectively explain why top-tier engineers earn significantly more than their peers in other sectors.

Mrs. Fatima Usman, a senior industry recruiter, observes: “Nigeria’s oil and gas sector rewards high-impact technical talent. Top-tier engineers are highly sought after because they combine expertise, leadership, and operational risk management in a way few other professionals do.”

Information Sources

The salary insights are based on a combination of public salary platforms, independent surveys of 700 Nigerian oil and gas professionals, and interviews with 50 HR and industry experts conducted in 2025.