Median earnings per year: $80,000
Mining and mineral engineers study minerals such as coal and diamonds and figure out the best way to remove them from the earth. They also learn how to locate minerals and design and develop mines.
A new report shows some undergraduate degrees pay off more than others — literally. Using data from the U.S. Census, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce's "What's It Worth: The Economic Value of College Majors" report, issued May 24, looked at 171 different majors and found that the difference in earning potential between one field of study and another can be more than 300%. TIME took a look at the 10 highest- and the 10 lowest-earning majors
10. Mining and Mineral Engineering