A person working as a Drilling Engineer in Papua New Guinea typically earns around 3,430 PGK per month. Salaries range from 1,580 PGK (lowest) to 5,450 PGK (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Drilling Engineer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Drilling Engineer salaries in Papua New Guinea range from 1,580 PGK per month (minimum salary) to 5,450 PGK per month (maximum salary).
The median salary is 3,700 PGK per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 3,700 PGK while the other half are earning more than 3,700 PGK. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 2,380 PGK while 75% of them are earning more than 2,380 PGK. Also from the diagram, 75% of Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 4,950 PGK while 25% are earning more than 4,950 PGK.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Drilling Engineer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 1,790 PGK per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 2,390 PGK per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 3,530 PGK per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Drilling Engineer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 4,310 PGK per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 4,700 PGK per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 5,090 PGK per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
0 - 2 Years | 1,790 PGK | |
2 - 5 Years | +34% | 2,390 PGK |
5 - 10 Years | +48% | 3,530 PGK |
10 - 15 Years | +22% | 4,310 PGK |
15 - 20 Years | +9% | 4,700 PGK |
20+ Years | +8% | 5,090 PGK |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary of a Drilling Engineer is 2,040 PGK per month.
While someone with a Bachelor's Degree gets a salary of 3,210 PGK per month, 57% more than someone having a Certificate or Diploma degree.
A Master's Degree gets its holder an average salary of 5,380 PGK per month, 68% more than someone with a Bachelor's Degree.
Certificate or Diploma | 2,040 PGK | |
Bachelor's Degree | +57% | 3,210 PGK |
Master's Degree | +68% | 5,380 PGK |
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Papua New Guinea costs anywhere from 20,500 Kina(s) to 61,600 Kina(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Drilling Engineer employees in Papua New Guinea earn 18% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 3,720 PGK | |
Female | -15% | 3,140 PGK |
Drilling Engineer(s) in Papua New Guinea are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 28 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 5% granted to employees every 28 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Papua New Guinea for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
A Drilling Engineer is considered to be a low bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
84% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 16% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 16% | |
No Bonus | 84% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Drilling Engineer is 1% less than that of Engineering. Also, Engineering salaries are 16% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 3,260 PGK | ![]() |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 2,600 PGK | ![]() |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 4,050 PGK | ![]() |
Associate Engineer | 3,240 PGK | ![]() |
Autocad Operator | 2,120 PGK | ![]() |
Automation Engineer | 3,770 PGK | ![]() |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 3,490 PGK | ![]() |
Biochemical Engineer | 3,160 PGK | ![]() |
BMS Engineer | 3,310 PGK | ![]() |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 1,950 PGK | ![]() |
Broadcast Engineer | 3,630 PGK | ![]() |
CAD Design Engineer | 3,770 PGK | ![]() |
CAD Designer | 2,220 PGK | ![]() |
CAE Engineer | 3,380 PGK | ![]() |
Ceramics Engineer | 3,210 PGK | ![]() |
Civil Engineer | 3,510 PGK | ![]() |
Commissioning Engineer | 3,360 PGK | ![]() |
Communications Engineer | 3,880 PGK | ![]() |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 3,130 PGK | ![]() |
Contract Associate Engineer | 3,220 PGK | ![]() |
Control Systems Engineer | 3,500 PGK | ![]() |
Controls Engineer | 3,350 PGK | ![]() |
Controls Software Engineer | 3,040 PGK | ![]() |
Corrosion Engineer | 3,090 PGK | ![]() |
Design Engineer | 3,720 PGK | ![]() |
Drafter | 2,240 PGK | ![]() |
Drafting Manager | 3,990 PGK | ![]() |
Drilling Engineer | 3,430 PGK | ![]() |
Electrical Draughtsman | 1,750 PGK | ![]() |
Electrical Engineer | 3,750 PGK | ![]() |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 5,250 PGK | ![]() |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 3,920 PGK | ![]() |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 1,860 PGK | ![]() |
Energy Engineer | 3,590 PGK | ![]() |
Engine Assembler | 1,560 PGK | ![]() |
Engineer | 3,740 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Account Manager | 3,990 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Chief Designer | 4,030 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Consultant | 4,890 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 5,330 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Lab Technician | 3,310 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Planning Manager | 4,720 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Production Manager | 6,210 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Analyst | 4,100 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 3,950 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Director | 7,330 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Manager | 4,850 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 5,600 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 2,800 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Sales Manager | 4,620 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Technician | 2,690 PGK | ![]() |
Engineering Technologist | 2,670 PGK | ![]() |
Environmental Engineer | 3,360 PGK | ![]() |
Equipment Engineer | 3,350 PGK | ![]() |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 4,690 PGK | ![]() |
Estimator | 2,970 PGK | ![]() |
Fabrication Specialist | 2,430 PGK | ![]() |
Fabricator | 1,680 PGK | ![]() |
Facade Engineer | 3,510 PGK | ![]() |
Fiber Analyst | 2,000 PGK | ![]() |
Field Engineer | 3,580 PGK | ![]() |
Field Engineering Manager | 6,230 PGK | ![]() |
Fire Engineer | 3,460 PGK | ![]() |
Fitter and Turner | 1,180 PGK | ![]() |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 3,980 PGK | ![]() |
Generation Engineer | 3,520 PGK | ![]() |
Genetic Engineer | 3,890 PGK | ![]() |
Geological Engineer | 3,650 PGK | ![]() |
Geotechnical Engineer | 3,800 PGK | ![]() |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 1,970 PGK | ![]() |
Highway Engineer | 3,450 PGK | ![]() |
HSE Professional | 3,210 PGK | ![]() |
HVAC Engineer | 3,940 PGK | ![]() |
HVAC Supervisor | 3,090 PGK | ![]() |
Industrial Engineer | 3,450 PGK | ![]() |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 3,520 PGK | ![]() |
Instrument Engineer | 3,330 PGK | ![]() |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 3,330 PGK | ![]() |
Instrumentation Engineer | 3,430 PGK | ![]() |
Instrumentation Manager | 3,460 PGK | ![]() |
Irrigation Engineer | 3,370 PGK | ![]() |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 3,990 PGK | ![]() |
Locomotive Engineer | 3,450 PGK | ![]() |
Maintenance Engineer | 3,480 PGK | ![]() |
Maintenance Fitter | 1,220 PGK | ![]() |
Maintenance Manager | 3,530 PGK | ![]() |
Manufacturing Engineer | 3,470 PGK | ![]() |
Marine Engineer | 3,510 PGK | ![]() |
Materials Engineer | 3,310 PGK | ![]() |
Materials Researcher | 3,190 PGK | ![]() |
Materials Technician | 2,500 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 3,950 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 3,890 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical Designer | 3,050 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineer | 3,850 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 4,910 PGK | ![]() |
Mechanical Inspector | 3,540 PGK | ![]() |
Mechatronics Engineer | 3,790 PGK | ![]() |
Mining Engineer | 3,360 PGK | ![]() |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 3,960 PGK | ![]() |
Optical Engineer | 3,360 PGK | ![]() |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 1,880 PGK | ![]() |
PCB Assembler | 1,280 PGK | ![]() |
Photonics Engineer | 3,770 PGK | ![]() |
Photonics Technician | 3,290 PGK | ![]() |
Pipeline Engineer | 3,170 PGK | ![]() |
Piping Designer | 2,010 PGK | ![]() |
Piping Engineer | 3,290 PGK | ![]() |
Planning Engineer | 3,720 PGK | ![]() |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 1,600 PGK | ![]() |
Principal Cost Engineer | 3,620 PGK | ![]() |
Principal Engineer | 3,420 PGK | ![]() |
Principal Support Engineer | 3,660 PGK | ![]() |
Process Engineer | 3,470 PGK | ![]() |
Process Operator | 2,120 PGK | ![]() |
Product Development Engineer | 3,540 PGK | ![]() |
Product Development Technician | 2,600 PGK | ![]() |
Product Engineer | 3,790 PGK | ![]() |
Product Safety Engineer | 3,350 PGK | ![]() |
Production Engineer | 3,660 PGK | ![]() |
Project Engineer | 3,730 PGK | ![]() |
Proposal Manager | 4,430 PGK | ![]() |
Purchasing Engineer | 3,170 PGK | ![]() |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 3,380 PGK | ![]() |
Rail Engineer | 3,680 PGK | ![]() |
Robotics Engineer | 4,120 PGK | ![]() |
Robotics Technician | 2,890 PGK | ![]() |
Safety Engineer | 3,530 PGK | ![]() |
Safety Inspector | 2,690 PGK | ![]() |
Safety Manager | 4,280 PGK | ![]() |
Safety Officer | 1,770 PGK | ![]() |
Sales Engineer | 3,830 PGK | ![]() |
Scheduling Engineer | 3,170 PGK | ![]() |
Service Engineer | 3,740 PGK | ![]() |
Solar Engineer | 3,650 PGK | ![]() |
Staff Engineer | 3,400 PGK | ![]() |
Static Equipment Engineer | 3,430 PGK | ![]() |
Stationary Engineer | 3,190 PGK | ![]() |
Stress Engineer | 3,370 PGK | ![]() |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 3,450 PGK | ![]() |
Structural Designer | 3,190 PGK | ![]() |
Structural Engineer | 3,330 PGK | ![]() |
Structural Technician | 2,340 PGK | ![]() |
Supply Chain Specialist | 3,580 PGK | ![]() |
Surveyor | 2,770 PGK | ![]() |
Technical Affairs Officer | 1,870 PGK | ![]() |
Technical Assistant | 1,880 PGK | ![]() |
Technical Engineer | 3,160 PGK | ![]() |
Technical Support Engineer | 3,130 PGK | ![]() |
Tender Engineer | 3,100 PGK | ![]() |
Test Development Engineer | 3,320 PGK | ![]() |
Transportation Engineer | 3,250 PGK | ![]() |
Validation Engineer | 3,190 PGK | ![]() |
Verification Engineer | 3,490 PGK | ![]() |
Wastewater Engineer | 3,530 PGK | ![]() |
Wind Energy Engineer | 3,560 PGK | ![]() |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 4,510 PGK | ![]() |
Work Planner | 2,540 PGK | ![]() |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Papua New Guinea earn 14% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 3,780 PGK | |
Public Sector | +14% | 4,310 PGK |