The 15 Best Associate Degree Jobs

Everyone knows an Associate’s degree is a fast, easy and inexpensive way to get an education. You can get in, learn what you want, and then get out without sacrificing a career-focused lifestyle. However, what you might not know is just how high-paying some Associate’s degree jobs really are.

In fact, there are several Associate’s degree career options that pay well over $50,000 per year — knowing that you can get a high-paying college job without racking up tons of loans.

Luckily, we’ve done some digging to find the top 15 Associate degree jobs, so you can be confident in your education path.

Detailed List of the Top 15 Best Associate Degree Jobs

Radiation Therapist

Average Salary: $81,149 per year
Jobs Available: 41,804
Job Growth Rate: 9%

Generally working as a part of an oncology team in the hospital, Radiation Therapists provide radiation treatment and therapy to patients on behalf of their oncologist’s recommendations. On average, this job pays a considerable $39.01, making it the highest-paid job on this list.

Luckily, you can land this job fairly easily with an Associate Degree, as at least 40% of those currently working in the field got in with one. This is also an easy way to save as much money as possible while also earning.

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Dental Hygienist

Average Salary: $78,399 per year
Jobs Available: 10,104
Job Growth Rate: 11%

If seeing the inside of someone’s mouth doesn’t gross you out, being a Dental Hygienist is well worth a two-year education. These health professionals make an average of $37.69 an hour, meaning that even if your patient is in pain, you certainly won’t be.

Plus, a considerable 70.8% of Dental Hygienists only have an Associate degree. With that in mind, you’ll have an extremely high chance of becoming one if you focus your studies on dentistry.

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Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Average Salary: $72,703 per year
Jobs Available: 34,350
Job Growth Rate: 7%

Similar but crucially different to a Radiation Therapist, Nuclear Medicine Technologists specialize in the use of radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and heal diseases.

Interpersonal skills are a must for this career, as these professionals work directly with patients to analyze their medical history and administer treatments. Nuclear Medicine Technologists make around $34.95 per hour.

It’s more than possible to get into this job with an Associate degree, as around 38.8% of those currently working in the field have an Associate degree as their highest level of education.

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Web Developer

Average Salary: $72,539 per year
Jobs Available: 134,772
Job Growth Rate: 13%

Though creating websites is the obvious takeaway from the job title, Web Developers do this by coding, designing, and managing the technical aspects of a webpage. These professionals make a respectable average of $34.87 per hour, and with the immense growth of technology and online shopping, it’s no wonder there are over 130,000 jobs currently available in this field.

Unfortunately, this is one of the harder jobs to get into with an Associate Degree on this list, but if you have some relevant experience in the field, you can easily land a job.

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Computer Programmer

Average Salary: $66,143 per year
Jobs Available: 82,829
Job Growth Rate: -7%

Experts in the design and creation of software programs, Computer Programmers spend a lot of their time writing codes, maintaining operating systems, troubleshooting system errors, and more. The average Computer Programmer can expect to make around $31.80 per hour.

This is also one of the easier computer-related fields to get into, with 22.2% of those currently working in the field only needing an Associate Degree. Like any other technology field, years of experience can easily overcome the need for a higher level of education.

Therefore, if you have coding or programming experience, think about your potential career as a Computer Programmer.

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Electronics Engineering Technician

Average Salary: $66,001 per year
Jobs Available: 51,953
Job Growth Rate: 2%

If you like building things and learning all about unique electronic gadgets, becoming an Electronic Engineering Technician might just be the perfect job for you. The average employee in this field makes $31.73 per hour to help design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and more.

Luckily enough, the vast majority of Electronic Engineering Technicians have an Associate Degree as their highest level of education. To be precise, 56.8% of those currently working in the field got in with an Associate’s.

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Nuclear Reactor Technician

Average Salary: $65,636 per year
Jobs Available: 21,598
Job Growth Rate: -4%

Don’t worry, this job won’t turn you into Spiderman, but it will pay you a considerable $31.56 per hour on average. Overall, Nuclear Reactor Technicians aid in nuclear energy production, as well as assist other nuclear operation and research professionals. Therefore, if you’re a skilled mathematician and know your way around a computer, this job could be a great fit for you.

45.2% of those currently working in the field have an Associate degree as their highest level of education, making this job achievable for anyone with a two-year education.

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Medical Sonographer

Average Salary: $64,986 per year
Jobs Available: 23,628
Job Growth Rate: 14%

Another among the numerous healthcare industry jobs on this list, Medical Sonographers create images of body organs and tissues to help diagnose medical conditions. With this job, in particular, you can make an average of $31.24 per hour without getting up close and personal with blood and guts.

This job is also one of the highest growing on this list, with a projected growth rate of at least 14%. That means that you’ll have to deal with far less competition, making it easier for you to get into the field with an Associate degree.

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Air Traffic Controller

Average Salary: $64,336 per year
Jobs Available: 8,346
Job Growth Rate: 1%

While they aren’t as widely known as the pilots, Air Traffic Controllers are just as responsible for every safe flight that goes in and out of an airport. On a regular day, someone with this job will coordinate aircraft flights, create routes, and communicate with pilots throughout the journey for at least $30 per hour.

While this job requires a few tests and certifications, such as the Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 27.6% of those with the job only needed an Associate degree to get into the field.

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Registered Nurse

Average Salary: $63,827 per year
Jobs Available: 361,349
Job Growth Rate: 12%

With over 361,000 jobs available in the U.S., Registered Nurses are one of the most high-demand jobs out there. These professionals educate patients and provide them with care, a job that easily allows them to work almost anywhere across the country. The average Registered Nurse also makes a respectable salary of $30.69 per hour.

Nurses commonly undertake nursing education programs, many of which fall under the umbrella of an Associate degree. In fact, 45.6% of those currently working in the field have an Associate’s as their highest level of education.

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Mechanical Engineering Technologist

Average Salary: $59,090 per year
Jobs Available: 70,278
Job Growth Rate: -1%

Often designing, building, and testing machines in manufacturing or production plants, Mechanical Engineering Technologists make an average of $28.41 per hour. Generally speaking, this job can have a balanced mix of working with others and working independently.

While some workers need a Bachelor’s degree to get into this field, a significant 35.2% only needed an Associate degree. Generally, a degree in mechanical or electrical engineering can easily get you into the field.

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Avionics Technician

Average Salary: $54,453 per year
Jobs Available: 23,127
Job Growth Rate: 3%

Another essential role for airliners around the U.S., Avionics Technicians repair, maintain and inspect the electrical systems in aircraft. These professionals conduct testing and inspections for aircraft on a regular basis, so travelers are safe in the sky. This important line of work can earn you an average of $26.18 per hour.

Despite the vital nature of this work, 41.4% of those currently employed only needed an Associate degree to start working. Overall, the most important qualifications to have for this line of work are FAA exams and trade school experience.

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Respiratory Therapist

Average Salary: $54,067 per year
Jobs Available: 27,572
Job Growth Rate: 21%

With a projected job growth rate of 21%, becoming a Respiratory Therapist over the next few years is a great choice. Those who work in this field generally work together with others in the healthcare industry, analyzing, diagnosing, and assessing lung capability and capacity. This potentially life-saving work can earn you $25.99 per hour on average.

Plus, nearly 70% of those currently employed in this field only needed an Associate degree to start working. That’s the vast majority, meaning that you can land a career as a Respiratory Therapist fast and easy.

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Environmental Engineering Technician

Average Salary: $53,336 per year
Jobs Available: 51,456
Job Growth Rate: 9%

If you have a vested interest in the environment and don’t mind working with others, being an Environmental Engineering Technician can be a great career choice. Those working in this role generally aid environmental engineers in developing indoor and outdoor solutions. This includes ways to control, prevent and remedy the damage caused by pollution.

For their work, Environmental Engineering Technicians make an average of $25.64 per hour. And, at least 1/4, or 24.6% of those currently working in the field only needed an Associate degree to start working.

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Computer Network Specialist

Average Salary: $51,912 per year
Jobs Available: 54,573
Job Growth Rate: 5%

Computer Network Specialists play a crucial role in any IT department, using their expertise to test, evaluate and maintain existing networks, as well as troubleshoot network and internet problems. For their important work, these professionals make an average of $25 per hour.

Overall, 36.0% of those currently working in this field got in with an Associate degree, meaning that with the right experience, a two-year program can get you started on this career path.

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Understanding Different Associate Degrees

If you haven’t gone for your Associate degree yet, it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of different degrees. These are the most common Associate’s degrees offered to applicants:

Associate in Arts (AA). A basic, all-encompassing degree. Students undertaking an AA program can expect to take a variety of courses, including history, art, literature, music, business, writing, and communication classes.

The main benefit of an AA degree is its broad nature, making it easy for a graduate to pursue a variety of career options. The main downside of an AA degree is the same feature, as some higher paying jobs might prefer a more honed degree.
Associate in Science (AS). A slightly more specific degree, an AS program allows students to take more science-related courses.

These degrees are excellent for anyone who wants to pursue a career in healthcare, technology, or several other popular fields. The main downside of this degree is that it’s still fairly broad while also limiting your career options.
Associate in Applied Science (AAS). A great choice for higher-paying jobs, an AAS program is a specific education path that centers around a single career field. Common examples include Accounting, Web development & design, Nursing, and Paralegal degrees.

The main benefit of this degree is that it can launch you directly into a career after you graduate, while the main downside is that it also locks you into that career.

The 15 Best Associate Degree Jobs FAQ

Are associate’s degrees worthless?

No, associate’s degrees are not worthless. The fact is, you can find a career that pays over $80,000 per year with an associate degree, which makes it well worth the cost. There are also thousands of other jobs that will open up to you once you have the degree.

Another great factor of an associate degree is that it allows you to specialize your skillset. You can go for anything from an Associate in Arts to an Associate in Science. Whatever field you choose to go into, there’s probably a degree that correlates with it.

And finally, associate degrees can also bring you closer to a future goal. If you don’t have the money or time to get a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree can be a great option. Even if you can’t get the job you want right away, you’ll be making progress toward your goal and saving money.
What is the easiest associate degree to get?

There is no easiest associate degree job. However, any career that only requires an Associate in Arts degree could be considered easier than some others.

Here are some examples of jobs you can get with an AA degree: Production assistant, Pastry chef, Marketing assistant, Painter, Human resources assistant, Esthetician, Carpenter, Web designer, or Social media manager.

While none of these jobs is inherently the easiest, they may be easier to get into than other Associate degree careers.

As far as availability, the Registered Nurse job has the most job openings. There are over 300,000 positions open across the country, which means this job can be incredibly easy to get into. The only catch is that the training you’ll need to become a Nurse can be quite rigorous.
Can I get a degree in one year?

Yes, you can get a degree in one year. The normal length of time required to complete an Associate degree is two years, but there are some programs that might allow you to complete it sooner.

This is because you typically need 60 credits spread across four quarters to earn your degree, but if you can earn those 60 credits in less than four quarters, you’re good to graduate. Therefore, programs that allow you to take six quarters’ worth of classes in just four quarters’ time will have you graduating sooner.

When in doubt, research information about the program or college before you get started and discuss with your adviser if this is something you’re interested in.
Is an Open University degree respected?

Yes, an Open University (OU) degree is respected, especially by employers. While it might not be the same as earning a Harvard Law degree, there is nothing wrong with Open Universities.

In fact, many employers appreciate seeing an OU degree on a resume for a few reasons. First and foremost, it shows that you have an education and the skillset that corresponds with that education.

Another reason why employers like to see OU degrees is because of how the courses are taught. Due to the fact that you have to complete an OU degree in your own time, on your own schedule, employers associate that with grit, determination, and motivation to do work on your own.

Final Thoughts

Of course, it’s important to note that there are several other fulfilling jobs you can have with an Associate degree. From teaching to sales, getting a two-year education is usually well worth the cost.

Additionally, remember that even if you don’t start with as high of a salary as you want, many of these jobs will continue to offer higher and higher pay as you become more experienced. Plus, you can always get a Bachelor’s degree later on using the credits you’ve already earned.

With that in mind, get out there and start working toward your new career.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.

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