There are plenty of fun careers out there for those who want to receive higher education. You don’t even need to take a four-year course to get a good career! There are plenty of wonderful careers you can pursue with a two-year associates degree. Here are the thirty best-paying associate’s degrees in 2024.
30. Paralegal Studies
Salary: $60,970 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 4%
Paralegals assist attorneys by conducting legal research, drafting documents, organizing files, and preparing for trials. They manage case details, communicate with clients, and ensure legal proceedings run smoothly. Paralegals also handle administrative tasks such as maintaining client files and managing deadlines.
29. Telecommunication
Salary: $62,350 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 6%
Telecommunications technicians install, maintain, and repair communication systems including telephone lines, internet networks, antennas, transmitters, receivers, and cable television. They are responsible for setting up and testing equipment, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring optimal performance of communication networks.
28. Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
Salary: $62,530 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 2%
CAD technicians use software to convert designs and concepts into detailed technical drawings and plans for buildings, machinery, and other products. Mechanical drafters create engineering blueprints. CAD technicians work with engineers and architects to develop designs that meet specifications and industry standards. Responsibilities include creating 2D and 3D models.
27. Industrial Engineering Technology
Salary: $62,610 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 3%
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians focus on improving efficiency in manufacturing and production processes. Responsibilities include analyzing production processes, developing management control systems, and ensuring quality control.
26. Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Salary: $62,790 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 4.4%
While the name of this degree might sound like a mouthful, calibration technologists and technicians can complete their coursework in two years. Their work involves testing measurement devices against standards, which helps ensure consistency in industries like healthcare and manufacturing.
25. Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
Salary: $62,990 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 16.5%
Those who work in the field of health information technology and medical registrars tend to work in offices. They develop health care systems via electronics and collect data regarding medical treatment and doctor’s office visits.
24. Mechanical Engineering Technology
Salary: $64,020 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 1%
Mechanical engineering technicians assist engineers in designing, developing, and testing mechanical devices, systems, and products. They prepare layouts, sketches, and drawings of parts and assemblies, conduct tests, and record data. They may also be involved in troubleshooting and repairing equipment.
23. Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Salary: $64,020 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 3.7%
Those in the field of medical engineering technology work with engineers and help to create the machinery and devices that doctors and technicians use in the medical field. They also help to design and test those machines.
22. Mechanical Drafters
Salary: $64,060 > Projected Job Growth Rate: -7.2%
When an architect makes a design for a building, a mechanical drafter comes in after them to create technical drawings of the building using computer software. These drawings can also be made to show the details of certain types of machinery and tools, too.
21. Physical Therapy Assistants
Salary: $64,080 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 26.1%
As a PT assistant, you would help patients recovering from illness or injury with their mobility. This includes exercises, pain management, and helping reconstruct coordination. PT assistants must be licensed to operate in any state in the US, but they only need an associate degree to acquire that license.
20. Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Salary: $65,080 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 2.7%
Another manufacturing industry job, technicians who work in mechatronics and electro-mechanical fields work with automated or robotic equipment. This would include testing, maintaining, and operating such machinery in industrial settings.
19. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Salary: $65,450 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 23%
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the supervision of occupational therapists to help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. They assist patients with therapeutic activities to improve their physical and cognitive functions. OTAs work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools.
18. Cardiovascular Technology
Salary: $66,170 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 10%
Cardiovascular technologists assist cardiologists in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel conditions. They perform tests such as echocardiograms, stress tests, and EKGs. Their responsibilities include preparing patients for procedures, operating diagnostic equipment, and recording the results for physician analysis.
17. Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Salary: $69,260 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 2.7%
An electrical drafter is similar to a mechanical drafter but with a slightly narrower focus. They take the designs that architects make and turn them into technical drawings that illustrate the electrical wiring of the original designs!
16. Computer Network Support Specialists
Salary: $71,530 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 7%
Support specialists for computer networks work with the systems of interlinked servers used by various businesses. This is an IT-adjacent job, and has the potential for plenty of growth in the next decade thanks to the ever-growing role of networked technology in the economy.
15. Computer Science
Salary: $71,530 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 5%
Computer science technicians provide technical assistance to support the development, maintenance, and troubleshooting of computer systems and networks. They test software applications, code, manage databases, and provide technical support. They ensure that computer systems run efficiently and securely.
14. Engineering Technology
Salary: $72,800 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 1%
Engineering technologists assist engineers with project planning, design, and implementation. They help with testing and conducting experiments, manufacturing, and product development. They also assist with preparing reports, collecting data, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
13. Electrical Engineering Technology
Salary: $72,800 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 1%
Electrical engineering technicians assist electrical engineers with electrical systems and equipment. They work on projects involving electrical wiring, circuitry, and control systems. Their duties include assembling and testing electrical components, troubleshooting problems, and ensuring systems meet safety and performance standards.
12. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Salary: $73,410 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 5.5%
Radiologic technologists are very specialized medical personnel who perform X-rays and other diagnostic tests on patients. They almost always work in hospital settings. They may also need state certification depending on the state they work in.
11. Aviation Maintenance Technology
Salary: $75,400 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 4%
Aviation maintenance technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and maintain aircraft to ensure they are safe and operational. They troubleshoot mechanical issues, perform routine maintenance, and replace faulty parts. Their responsibilities include keeping detailed records of maintenance activities and ensuring compliance with aviation safety standards.
10. Funeral Home Director
Salary: $75,660 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 2.2%
Funeral home directors and managers oversee the operations of funeral homes. They manage staff and handle public relations, advertisement, and oversee the funeral home’s resources. This might sound like a grim job, but it’s a rewarding way to gain experience in management.
9. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology
Salary: $76,020 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 7%
MRI technologists operate MRI scanners to create detailed images of patients’ internal structures. They prepare patients for scans and ensure their safety and comfort. Responsibilities also include maintaining equipment, recording patient information, and assisting radiologists in analyzing the images.
8. Aerospace Engineering
Salary: $77,830 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 8%
Aerospace engineering technicians assist engineers with the development of aerospace technologies by designing, building, and testing aircraft, spacecraft, and missile systems. They prepare technical drawings, conduct tests, and collect data to ensure that designs meet specifications and safety standards.
7. Respiratory Therapy
Salary: $77,960 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 13%.
Respiratory therapists (RTs) provide care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. They perform diagnostic tests, administer treatments, and monitor patients’ progress. They also manage ventilators, provide oxygen therapy, and educate patients on managing their conditions. RTs work in hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare settings.
6. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Salary: $84,470 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 10%
Sonographers use ultrasound equipment to create images of the body’s internal structures to assist physicians in diagnosing medical conditions. Sonographers prepare patients for procedures, operate the equipment, and analyze the images for abnormalities. Responsibilities also include record keeping and maintaining equipment.
5. Dental Hygiene
Salary: $87,530 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 7%
Dental hygienists assist dentists by cleaning teeth, examining patients for signs of oral diseases, and providing preventative dental care. Duties include removing plaque and tartar, applying sealants and fluoride treatments, taking dental X-rays, and educating patients on oral hygiene practices.
4. Nuclear Medicine Technology
Salary: $92,500 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 0%
Using radioactive materials, nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs to patients for imaging or therapeutic purposes. They operate imaging equipment, such as PET and gamma cameras. Responsibilities include maintaining safety protocols to protect patients and themselves and analyzing the imaging results.
3. Radiation Therapy Technology
Salary: $98,300 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 2%
Working closely with oncologists and other healthcare professionals, radiation therapists administer radiation treatments to patients with cancer and other diseases. They operate radiation equipment, ensure precise delivery of radiation doses, and monitor patients for side effects. Responsibilities include preparing patients for treatment and record-keeping.
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2. Nuclear Technology
Salary: $101,740 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 1%
Nuclear technicians support nuclear engineers by assisting in the operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, nuclear research facilities, or medical imaging equipment. They monitor radiation levels, conduct tests, maintain equipment, and ensure compliance with safety protocols.
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1. Air Traffic Control/Management
Salary: $137,380 > Projected Job Growth Rate: 1%
Air traffic controllers are crucial to ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic within controlled airspace and on the ground at airports. Generally speaking, air traffic controllers monitor and direct aircraft. They also provide instructions to pilots and coordinate takeoffs and landings.
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