Nine Associate Degrees That Lead to High-Paying Jobs

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 radiologic technologists is $61,980, and for sonographers it's $75,380. What's more, demand for trained professionals is expected to grow by 9%-14% through 2030. These technologists use dedicated equipment, such as MRI machines, to create images that doctors use to diagnose and determine how to treat patients.

Not only do they need to have an affinity for operating sophisticated tools, technologists also need to interact well with people, especially those who are ill. Most work full-time in hospitals or medical laboratories. The following are just a few of the schools offering associate degrees in radiology, sonography, or allied health, as well as the median salaries earned by recent graduates in entry-level positions.

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are an integral part of their patients' oral health maintenance. When a patient comes in for a routine check-up, the hygienist uses a number of tools and techniques — often including x-rays — to examine and clean the patient's teeth. The hygienist also updates dental records, educates patients on proper oral care, and consults with the dentist on any oral health issues.

Opportunities for hygienists to work in dental offices are expected to increase by 11% over the next eight years, and their median annual income is $77,810. This table indicates how much graduates of some dental hygiene programs are earning one year after graduation.

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants can be found working in doctor's offices, hospitals, and other types of healthcare facilities, and they are often the first person to interact with a patient who has just arrived for medical help. They are responsible for recording each patient's information, taking vital signs, and updating the patient's records so that all of the necessary data is available when the doctor is ready to see the patient.

Medical assisting educational programs 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, pharmacy technicians interact with customers, update records, and fill prescriptions using specialized equipment. In some states, pharmacy technicians are required to be licensed or certified. Most work full time, and many work evenings and weekends.

The BLS notes that the expected growth rate for pharmacy technicians is 4% — somewhat lower than the average for all occupations — and the median annual income is $36,740. However, our Salary Score data shows that alumni of some pharmacy technician programs may earn substantially higher salaries, even in entry-level positions.

Registered Nurse

Nursing programs that train graduates to become registered nurses vary considerably. Although some employers prefer job candidates with bachelor's degrees, many are still hiring graduates of two- or three-year diploma or certificate programs or four-year associate degree programs. Registered nurses can be found in all types of healthcare facilities, and some even travel to patients' homes. After assessing a patient's health condition, they typically collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide care, which may include conducting diagnostic tests and administering medications.

Demand for RNs 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, computer support specialists earn a median annual income of $57,910 and even higher salaries go to network architects, programmers, database administrators, and web developers. The tech industry is highly competitive so students may want to enhance their skills by earning a bachelor's degree, 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 multi-state hospital chains, including HCA Healthcare in the South, Dignity Health or Kaiser Permanente in the Southwest, Ascension Health in the Midwest, and CommonSpirit Health and Trinity Health across the country.

A Degree With Many Benefits

After reviewing all of these jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree, it's clear that an associate degree from an accredited college may offer several advantages. Perhaps the most important of these is the return on your initial financial investment. According to recent College Board data, annual tuition fees at two-year schools range from a low of $1,430 in California to a high of $8,600 in Vermont, with a median of $3,800. Thus, tuition for two years of education ranges from $2,860-$17,200.

Meanwhile, BLS data indicates that associate degree holders earn an average of $154 more per week than those with high school diplomas, which adds up to $8,008 more in annual income and at least $320,000 in lifetime income. Of course, you'll also need to pay for books, supplies, and other fees, but the net result is still an extremely high ROI, given the nominal amount paid to earn your degree.

Also keep in mind that you may not have to pay the full price of tuition and other expenses to earn an associate degree. Students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for grants and scholarships provided by federal and state governments and the schools themselves. There may also be private scholarships available for students in specific majors, such as nursing or criminal justice. Most states also offer "promise" programs that provide additional funding for students pursuing associate degrees.