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Nine Associate Degrees That Lead to High-Paying Jobs

Jennifer King Logan

Written By: Jennifer King Logan

Published: 6/17/2022

Finances may be influencing college students' educational choices more than ever before. With approximately shows that there are a number of associate degree jobs that lead to high salaries in the first year out of college. Salary Scores indicate how much alumni of a particular program earn as compared to graduates of similar programs. By combining our insights with information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we've identified nine promising options that can be earned traditionally on campus or online.

Jennifer King Logan

Written By: Jennifer King Logan

Published: 6/17/2022

Finances may be influencing college students' educational choices more than ever before. With approximately shows that there are a number of associate degree jobs that lead to high salaries in the first year out of college. Salary Scores indicate how much alumni of a particular program earn as compared to graduates of similar programs. By combining our insights with information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we've identified nine promising options that can be earned traditionally on campus or online.

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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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Pima Medical Institute - Dillon (AZ)  96 $68,702
Community College of Denver (CO)  93 $65,734
San Joaquin Valley College (CA)  93 $65,493
Hagerstown Community College (MD)  90 $63,624

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Casa Loma College (CA)  98 $53,123
University of Indianapolis (IN)  97 $51,367
Baltimore City College (MD)  97 $50,861
Arkansas State University  95 $49,040
GateWay Community College (AZ)  92 $47,065
Bishop State Community College (AL)  88 $45,012

Pharmacy Technician

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

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Howard Community College (MD)  98 $53,398
Oakton Community College (IL)  98 $52,362
Naugatuck Community College (CT)  96 $49,750
Albany State University (GA)  94 $48,072
Florida Gateway College  92 $46,752
Hutchinson Community College (KS)  90 $45,963

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Santa Barbara City College (CA)  100 $80,727
Cochran School of Nursing (NY)  99 $78,787
Sumner College (OR)  94 $71,902
Santa Monica College (CA)  93 $70,951
Charter College Online  93 $70,909

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Fisher College (MA)  100 $47,472
Florida State College at Jacksonville  99 $44,655
Front Range Community College (CO)  99 $43,813
SUNY Empire State College   97 $41,849

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Red Rocks Community College (CO)  100 $66,863
Grand Rapids Community College (MI)  99 $47,335
College of Southern Idaho  96 $43,775
Southwestern Illinois College  93 $41,907
Beal College (ME)  92 $41,540

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Anne Arundel Community College (MD)  100 $58,439
Indiana Hills Community College (IA)  97 $53,639
Strayer University (DC)  96 $48,720
Colorado Technical University  94 $43,500

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Pima Medical Institute - Dillon (AZ)  96 $68,702
Community College of Denver (CO)  93 $65,734
San Joaquin Valley College (CA)  93 $65,493
Hagerstown Community College (MD)  90 $63,624

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Casa Loma College (CA)  98 $53,123
University of Indianapolis (IN)  97 $51,367
Baltimore City College (MD)  97 $50,861
Arkansas State University  95 $49,040
GateWay Community College (AZ)  92 $47,065
Bishop State Community College (AL)  88 $45,012

Pharmacy Technician

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

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Howard Community College (MD)  98 $53,398
Oakton Community College (IL)  98 $52,362
Naugatuck Community College (CT)  96 $49,750
Albany State University (GA)  94 $48,072
Florida Gateway College  92 $46,752
Hutchinson Community College (KS)  90 $45,963

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Santa Barbara City College (CA)  100 $80,727
Cochran School of Nursing (NY)  99 $78,787
Sumner College (OR)  94 $71,902
Santa Monica College (CA)  93 $70,951
Charter College Online  93 $70,909

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Fisher College (MA)  100 $47,472
Florida State College at Jacksonville  99 $44,655
Front Range Community College (CO)  99 $43,813
SUNY Empire State College   97 $41,849

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Red Rocks Community College (CO)  100 $66,863
Grand Rapids Community College (MI)  99 $47,335
College of Southern Idaho  96 $43,775
Southwestern Illinois College  93 $41,907
Beal College (ME)  92 $41,540

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.

School Salary Score Median Income 1 Year After Graduation
Anne Arundel Community College (MD)  100 $58,439
Indiana Hills Community College (IA)  97 $53,639
Strayer University (DC)  96 $48,720
Colorado Technical University  94 $43,500

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

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