While it is hard to quantify the value of higher education, people with higher levels of education tend to have higher incomes and are less likely to be unemployed. Jobs with greater educational requirements tend to have higher pay as well as some of the best job security and benefits.
One of the best investments in higher education is the associate degree. A typical associate degree program lasts two years and can provide graduates with access to high-paying jobs in specialized, fast-growing fields.
The median annual wage for jobs that typically require an associate degree is $53,700, approximately $15,000 more than the median wage for all jobs and $29,000 more than the median pay for jobs with no formal education requirement. A number of the occupations that typically require an associate degree pay more than $70,000.
To identify the highest paying jobs you can get with an associate degree, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual median wage estimates for over 800 occupations that require associate degrees with data from the May 2018 Occupational Employment Statistics program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Jobs requiring associate degrees also tend to be in fast-growing, in-demand fields. While the number of jobs in the United States is projected to grow by 7.4% from 2016 to 2026, the number of jobs that typically require an associate degree is projected to grow by 10.8%. Some jobs on this list — mostly in the medical practice, one of America’s fastest-growing industries — are projected to grow by more than 20% over the period.
Click here to see the full list of the highest paying jobs you can get with an associate degree
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology
Source: DragonImages / Getty Images
43. Broadcast technicians
> Median annual wage: $40,080
> Total employment: 31,580
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -3.2%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 48.7%
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Source: relif / Getty Images
42. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
> Median annual wage: $40,390
> Total employment: 124,600
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -1.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 48.1%
Source: alvarez / Getty Images
41. Agricultural and food science technicians
> Median annual wage: $40,860
> Total employment: 21,290
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.3%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 44.9%
Source: Zoonar RF / Getty Images
40. Desktop publishers
> Median annual wage: $42,910
> Total employment: 10,740
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -14.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 52.0%
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Source: fstop123 / Getty Images
39. Embalmers
> Median annual wage: $44,250
> Total employment: 4,070
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -0.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 41.0%
Source: Pablo_K / Getty Images
38. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
> Median annual wage: $46,170
> Total employment: 32,600
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.1%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 59.9%
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37. Chemical technicians
> Median annual wage: $48,160
> Total employment: 65,500
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 47.6%
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Source: golubovy / Getty Images
36. Medical equipment repairers
> Median annual wage: $49,210
> Total employment: 46,320
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.3%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 42.2%
Source: ipopba / Getty Images
35. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
> Median annual wage: $49,670
> Total employment: 65,220
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +9.7%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 59.9%
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Source: sturti / Getty Images
34. Environmental engineering technicians
> Median annual wage: $50,560
> Total employment: 17,310
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.9%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
Source: andriano_cz / Getty Images
33. Paralegals and legal assistants
> Median annual wage: $50,940
> Total employment: 309,940
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +14.6%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 63.0%
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Source: Rose State Community College / Wikimedia Commons
32. Respiratory therapy technicians
> Median annual wage: $51,210
> Total employment: 9,090
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -56.3%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.1%
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Source: Aashish Basnyat / Getty Images
31. Drafters, all other
> Median annual wage: $51,850
> Total employment: 14,580
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +8.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 60.1%
Source: Gligatron / Getty Images
30. Civil engineering technicians
> Median annual wage: $52,580
> Total employment: 71,150
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +8.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
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29. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors
> Median annual wage: $52,650
> Total employment: 25,740
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.9%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 73.6%
Source: Radist / Getty Images
28. Geological and petroleum technicians
> Median annual wage: $53,300
> Total employment: 15,060
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +16.4%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 54.8%
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27. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
> Median annual wage: $54,890
> Total employment: 13,930
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.4%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 31.3%
Source: Django / Getty Images
26. Architectural and civil drafters
> Median annual wage: $54,920
> Total employment: 97,610
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +8.1%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 60.1%
Source: golubovy / Getty Images
25. Industrial engineering technicians
> Median annual wage: $55,460
> Total employment: 66,540
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +0.6%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
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Source: Thinkstock
24. Mechanical drafters
> Median annual wage: $55,920
> Total employment: 56,170
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.2%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 60.1%
Source: Nattanon Kanchak / Getty Images
23. Mechanical engineering technicians
> Median annual wage: $56,250
> Total employment: 41,460
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
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Source: Thinkstock
22. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
> Median annual wage: $56,850
> Total employment: 56,560
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +9.9%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 75.3%
Source: skynesher / Getty Images
21. Electro-mechanical technicians
> Median annual wage: $57,790
> Total employment: 13,520
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.5%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
Source: FatCamera / Getty Images
20. Physical therapist assistants
> Median annual wage: $58,040
> Total employment: 94,250
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +31.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 80.2%
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19. Legal support workers, all other
> Median annual wage: $58,930
> Total employment: 43,150
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 56.0%
Source: Darunechka / iStock / Getty Images Plus
18. Radiologic technologists
> Median annual wage: $59,520
> Total employment: 205,590
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.3%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 75.3%
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Source: scanrail / Getty Images
17. Electrical and electronics drafters
> Median annual wage: $60,070
> Total employment: 24,900
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 60.1%
Source: gawrav / Getty Images
16. Occupational therapy assistants
> Median annual wage: $60,220
> Total employment: 42,660
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +28.9%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 93.0%
Source: Zinkevych / Getty Images
15. Respiratory therapists
> Median annual wage: $60,280
> Total employment: 129,600
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +23.4%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 86.2%
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14. Computer network support specialists
> Median annual wage: $62,770
> Total employment: 181,360
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +8.3%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 65.4%
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other
> Median annual wage: $63,200
> Total employment: 83,360
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.2%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Avionics technicians
> Median annual wage: $64,140
> Total employment: 18,860
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 44.9%
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Source: anyaivanova / Getty Images
11. Electrical and electronics engineering technicians
> Median annual wage: $64,330
> Total employment: 126,950
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +2.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
Source: AntonMatveev / Getty Images
10. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
> Median annual wage: $67,010
> Total employment: 10,110
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.6%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 43.6%
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9. Web developers
> Median annual wage: $69,430
> Total employment: 127,300
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +15.0%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 79.2%
Source: Zinkevych / Getty Images
8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
> Median annual wage: $71,670
> Total employment: 38,540
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +13.7%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 75.3%
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7. Diagnostic medical sonographers
> Median annual wage: $72,510
> Total employment: 71,130
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +23.2%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 75.3%
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Source: AntonioGuillem / Getty Images
6. Dental hygienists
> Median annual wage: $74,820
> Total employment: 215,150
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +19.7%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 88.9%
Source: Mark Kostich / Getty Images
5. Nuclear medicine technologists
> Median annual wage: $76,820
> Total employment: 18,810
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +9.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 75.3%
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Source: iaea_imagebank / Flickr
4. Nuclear technicians
> Median annual wage: $79,140
> Total employment: 7,230
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +0.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 54.8%
Source: Thinkstock
3. Funeral service managers
> Median annual wage: $79,180
> Total employment: 8,400
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 65.1%
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Source: Motortion / Getty Images
2. Radiation therapists
> Median annual wage: $82,330
> Total employment: 18,260
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.8%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 85.1%
Source: CatEyePerspective / Getty Images
1. Air traffic controllers
> Median annual wage: $124,540
> Total employment: 22,390
> Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.5%
> Pct. workers w/ associate degree or more: 64.2%
Detailed Findings
High-paying jobs that typically require an associate degree tend to be in technical, specialized fields. Most associate degree programs train students for specific careers and prioritize hands-on instruction such as demonstrations and practical exercises over lectures.
Associate degree programs often prepare students for a direct transition from school to the workplace. This may be one reason why so just 4.3% of jobs that require an associate degree also require previous work experience. By comparison, 25.3% of jobs that typically require a bachelor’s degree also typically require related work experience.
Many high-paying jobs that typically require an associate degree also require that practitioners have some sort of outside licensing or certification. Air traffic controllers, for example, must hold an Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certificate or be otherwise qualified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Most states require radiation therapists — the second highest paying job on this list and No. 16 on the list of the best jobs in America — to be certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Jobs requiring associate degrees also tend to be in fast-growing, in-demand fields. While the number of jobs in the United States is projected to grow by 7.4% from 2016 to 2026, the number of jobs that typically require an associate degree is projected to grow by 10.8%. Some jobs on this list — mostly in medical practice, one of America’s fastest-growing industries — are projected to grow by more than 20% over the period.
Methodology
To identify the highest paying jobs you can get with an associate degree, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual median wage estimates for over 800 occupations with data from the May 2018 Occupational Employment Statistics program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on the typical educational requirement for each occupation came from the Employment Projections program of the BLS and are for 2016. The educational attainment of workers 25 and older in each occupation and the projected employment change also came from the Employment Projections program. The Employment Projections report includes self-employed workers, while the OES excludes such workers. All data are for the most recent period available.
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