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The Highest Paying Jobs With Associate Degrees

There are a number of occupations that require only a two-year degree, yet offer substantial incomes, and they all happen to be in the healthcare field. The relevant associate degree programs are designed to equip you with highly specialized skills that enable you to work with patients in clinical settings. Depending on which school you choose to attend, you may find yourself earning a respectable income as early as one year after graduation.

Radiologic Technologists and Sonographers

According to the BLS, professionals in these two diagnostic roles earn healthy salaries. The median annual wage for are earning one year after graduation.

Medical Assistant

vary in length from one-year certificates to two-year associate degrees, and the projected growth rate of 18% suggests there is a pronounced demand for graduates of all types of programs. Although the BLS lists the median annual income for medical assistants as $37,190, we found a number of schools with graduates who are earning significantly more just one year after completing their programs.

Pharmacy Technician

Working under the supervision of licensed pharmacists, may earn substantially higher salaries, even in entry-level positions.

Registered Nurse

Nursing programs that train graduates to become is expected to increase by 9% through the end of the decade, on par with all occupations. The median annual income for registered nurses is $77,600, which is supported by our findings, some of which are shown in the table below.

Three Other Degrees of Interest

Healthcare is not the only field in which associate degrees add value to a graduate's career. In reviewing our most recent Salary Score data, we found three other degree programs that may lead to a wide range of job opportunities with respectable entry-level salaries. Although a bachelor's degree may be the preferred level of education for some of these related occupations, an associate degree might be the ideal first step on your career path.

Business

Associate degree programs in business are designed to give graduates a foundation in managerial functions, such as planning, organizing, and measuring success. They also introduce students to the fundamentals of business operations, including accounting processes and financial documentation. With a broad background in business, graduates can pursue management, operations, purchasing, sales, and marketing roles in a wide range of industries. According to the BLS, these occupations may require bachelor's degrees, but our Salary Score data indicates that some graduates with associate degrees are still able to land good-paying jobs.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice associate degree programs introduce students to the legal system, including criminal law, court procedures, and corrections. With a two-year degree in criminal justice, graduates may be qualified for a range of jobs. For example, the best associate degree jobs in this field include police officers or detectives, who earn a median annual income of $66,020. Other options include probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, with a median annual salary of $60,250, and correctional officers and bailiffs, with a median annual salary of $47,920. The following table reveals some of the entry-level salaries earned by criminal justice associate degree graduates around the country.

Computer Science and Information Technology

There is a great deal of diversity in technology-related degree programs. Some possible areas of focus in associate-level programs include computer science, data science, information technology, and programming. Overall, salaries are strong in this high-growth field. According to the BLS, , but our data confirms that tech associate degree earners may be able to command good salaries in their entry-level jobs.

Employers That Hire Associate Degree Holders

Graduates with associate degrees may find themselves working for small, local organizations or larger regional or even national corporations. For example, healthcare workers of all types may find employment with some of the many are earning one year after graduation.

Medical Assistant

vary in length from one-year certificates to two-year associate degrees, and the projected growth rate of 18% suggests there is a pronounced demand for graduates of all types of programs. Although the BLS lists the median annual income for medical assistants as $37,190, we found a number of schools with graduates who are earning significantly more just one year after completing their programs.

Pharmacy Technician

Working under the supervision of licensed pharmacists, may earn substantially higher salaries, even in entry-level positions.

Registered Nurse

Nursing programs that train graduates to become is expected to increase by 9% through the end of the decade, on par with all occupations. The median annual income for registered nurses is $77,600, which is supported by our findings, some of which are shown in the table below.

Three Other Degrees of Interest

Healthcare is not the only field in which associate degrees add value to a graduate's career. In reviewing our most recent Salary Score data, we found three other degree programs that may lead to a wide range of job opportunities with respectable entry-level salaries. Although a bachelor's degree may be the preferred level of education for some of these related occupations, an associate degree might be the ideal first step on your career path.

Business

Associate degree programs in business are designed to give graduates a foundation in managerial functions, such as planning, organizing, and measuring success. They also introduce students to the fundamentals of business operations, including accounting processes and financial documentation. With a broad background in business, graduates can pursue management, operations, purchasing, sales, and marketing roles in a wide range of industries. According to the BLS, these occupations may require bachelor's degrees, but our Salary Score data indicates that some graduates with associate degrees are still able to land good-paying jobs.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice associate degree programs introduce students to the legal system, including criminal law, court procedures, and corrections. With a two-year degree in criminal justice, graduates may be qualified for a range of jobs. For example, the best associate degree jobs in this field include police officers or detectives, who earn a median annual income of $66,020. Other options include probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, with a median annual salary of $60,250, and correctional officers and bailiffs, with a median annual salary of $47,920. The following table reveals some of the entry-level salaries earned by criminal justice associate degree graduates around the country.

Computer Science and Information Technology

There is a great deal of diversity in technology-related degree programs. Some possible areas of focus in associate-level programs include computer science, data science, information technology, and programming. Overall, salaries are strong in this high-growth field. According to the BLS, , but our data confirms that tech associate degree earners may be able to command good salaries in their entry-level jobs.

Employers That Hire Associate Degree Holders

Graduates with associate degrees may find themselves working for small, local organizations or larger regional or even national corporations. For example, healthcare workers of all types may find employment with some of the many