The oil and gas industry remains Norway's most important, accounting for approximately 14% of GDP and an astonishing 39% of total exports. There's even a petroleum museum in Stavanger. Salaries are high in the oil and gas industry but qualified people are required and the work can be tough, The base salary for Field Engineer Oil And Gas ranges from $60,863 to $80,575 with the average base salary of $70,128. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $62,285 to $82,992 with the average total cash compensation of $71,792. 1. Norway. A petroleum engineer earns $228.500. Since the country discovered oil in the North Sea, in the 1960s, Norway became one of the highest paying countries for petroleum engineers.