What will an associates degree get me

With just a few years of education the typical associate degree is two , you can find yourself well-equipped to make a higher-than-average salary doing something you love. Using data from Monster and the Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS , we identified the top 10 highest-paying jobs that require an associate degree. Most of these jobs fall in the health care and tech sectors—two industries that are seeing incredible job growth right now.

Salaries largely depend on your level of experience, specialty, and where in the country you're employed. Take a look at the full list below—ranked by salary—for the best associate degrees to pursue and the jobs that you can get with them. All clear! Find air traffic controller jobs on Monster. Depending on their specialty, they might also perform X-rays, MRIs, sonograms, and other imaging techniques. Check out this sample resume for a radiologic technician. Find radiation therapist jobs on Monster.

They also perform tests to monitor radiation and make sure site workers are following standard safety procedures. Find nuclear technician jobs on Monster. They care for patients by explaining what the drugs are doing, operating imaging technology, and always following strict safety procedures. Find nuclear medicine technologist jobs on Monster. This includes things like cleaning teeth and administering preventative procedures like X-rays and fluoride treatments.

Check out this resume sample for a dental hygienist and sample cover letter for a dental hygienist. Find dental hygienist jobs on Monster. Sometimes, web developers even create content for the site. A successful, high-salary career often takes years of time and educational investment—but not always. There are many high-paying occupations that only require an associate degree. Companies are hiring associate-level degree holders at a rapid pace in fields like economics and computer science, but also in career-specific fields like dental hygiene and radiation therapy.

Check out this page to find out more information on the highest-paying jobs you can get with an associate degree. According to the Recruiting Trends report by Michigan State University, every sector of business at the national level is hiring increasing numbers of employers with Associate Degrees.

High school students can earn college credit, and up to an Associate Degree, before graduation, and many programs offer flexible, online degree options or accelerated formats to suit the schedules of working professionals. People who are interested in healthcare, engineering or computer science can jump on an especially fast track to high wages.

This means they start making money in their career sooner, potentially less student loan debt. Take a look at some Associate degrees with the high starting salaries below.

Source: U. For those seeking an education and career with more long-term growth in mind, an associate degree can still lead to a high salary.

There are plenty of associate-level careers that lead to higher overall earning potential as you gain experience and climb the ladder. While it takes time and commitment to build up to the payoff, the following associate degree careers provide higher lifetime earning potential:. Some of the highest paying careers that an associated degree can lead to are in STEM science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, and prospective students should understand the time commitment, energy and resources that these programs require, as well as the amount of preparation that will go into applying and getting accepted before diving in.

Here are some realities to prepare for:. Associate degrees that lead to high-paying jobs can be earned in many ways, and at many different times throughout life. High school students can take college courses toward an associate degree.

Degrees can be completed in the traditional college setting and also online. TurboTax review. TaxAct review. Credit Karma Tax vs TurboTax.

What tax bracket am I in? Best online financial advisors. Do I need a financial planner? How much is a financial advisor? Questions to ask a financial advisor. Fee-only vs. Average credit score. Average net worth. How to increase your credit score. How to increase your net worth. While many high-paying jobs require a bachelors degree or more, there are many positions that only require an associate degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These positions include engineering technicians, dental hygienists, and air traffic controllers. Visit BusinessInsider. Industrial engineering technicians. Mechanical drafters. Electrical and electronics drafters. Mechanical engineering technicians. Funeral-service managers. Occupational therapy assistants. Electro-mechanical technicians. Physical therapist assistants. Legal support workers.

Respiratory therapists. Radiologic technologists. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists. Computer-network-support specialists. Avionics technicians. Engineering technicians except drafters.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians.

Diagnostic medical sonographers. Web developers. Dental hygienists. Nuclear medicine technologists. Nuclear technicians. Radiation therapists. Air-traffic controller. Rachel Gillett. Rachel Gillett is a senior lifestyle editor at Insider overseeing a team that covers travel, home, alternative living, photography, and visual features.

She was formerly the visual features editor for Insider Inc. She previously wrote and edited for Fast Company's Leadership section. Her work as a multimedia journalist has been featured on PopPhoto. She graduated from Rutgers University with a double major in journalism and media studies and German studies.

Jacquelyn Smith. Jacquelyn joined Business Insider as the careers editor in She previously worked as a leadership reporter for Forbes. Marissa Perino. Marissa Perino is a former editorial intern covering executive lifestyle. She studied journalism and communications at the University of Pittsburgh, along with creative writing.