Best-Paying Jobs With an Associate’s Degree
Two-year-degree careers ranked by median salary and after-tax pay.
The 48 jobs below have a median salary of $67,820 — 33% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. workers. 48% of them are projected to grow faster than the 3.5% average through 2035, and together they are expected to have about 330,400 openings a year. The most common entry requirement on this list is: associate's degree (48 jobs).
| # | Job | Median salary | Take-home* | Education | Growth 2025–35 | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Traffic Controller | $148,080 | $112,479 | Associate's degree | +1.7% | 2,100 |
| 2 | Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | $86,384 | Associate's degree | +1.1% | 900 |
| 3 | Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | $82,916 | Associate's degree | +2.8% | 700 |
| 4 | Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $101,370 | $80,144 | Associate's degree | +4.4% | 800 |
| 5 | Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $77,843 | Associate's degree | +8.0% | 15,000 |
| 6 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $76,781 | Associate's degree | +13.9% | 6,000 |
| 7 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $95,480 | $76,000 | Associate's degree | +7.7% | 2,300 |
| 8 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician | $82,890 | $67,143 | Associate's degree | +11.9% | 1,100 |
| 9 | Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $66,714 | Associate's degree | +8.5% | 8,600 |
| 10 | Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 | $65,187 | Associate's degree | +5.0% | 13,000 |
| 11 | Funeral Home Manager | $78,790 | $64,259 | Associate's degree | +4.1% | 2,600 |
| 12 | Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | $63,949 | Associate's degree | +2.8% | 5,400 |
| 13 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician | $78,190 | $63,837 | Associate's degree | +2.4% | 8,100 |
| 14 | Electrical and Electronics Drafter | $76,870 | $62,908 | Associate's degree | -3.4% | 1,400 |
| 15 | Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,220 | $62,451 | Associate's degree | +1.2% | 9,000 |
| 16 | Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician | $74,510 | $61,248 | Associate's degree | +1.3% | 3,100 |
| 17 | Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician | $74,310 | $61,107 | Associate's degree | +3.7% | 3,400 |
| 18 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician | $73,900 | $60,819 | Associate's degree | +2.6% | 1,400 |
| 19 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $59,693 | Associate's degree | +21.5% | 8,100 |
| 20 | Legal Support Workers, All Other | $72,110 | $59,559 | Associate's degree | -0.3% | 4,700 |
| 21 | Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | $59,165 | Associate's degree | -6.0% | 2,900 |
| 22 | Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $56,935 | Associate's degree | +23.0% | 18,500 |
| 23 | Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar | $68,020 | $56,682 | Associate's degree | +15.9% | 3,000 |
| 24 | Calibration Technologist and Technician | $67,820 | $56,541 | Associate's degree | +4.8% | 1,500 |
| 25 | Architectural and Civil Drafter | $66,150 | $55,332 | Associate's degree | +5.2% | 9,100 |
| 26 | Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician | $66,120 | $55,307 | Associate's degree | +3.1% | 6,600 |
| 27 | Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician | $64,950 | $54,367 | Associate's degree | +3.2% | 6,100 |
| 28 | Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 | $54,239 | Associate's degree | -1.3% | 400 |
| 29 | Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | $53,218 | Associate's degree | -7.3% | 1,000 |
| 30 | Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | $63,520 | $53,218 | Associate's degree | +1.2% | 1,000 |
| 31 | Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $62,890 | $52,712 | Associate's degree | -0.3% | 40,800 |
| 32 | Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $52,222 | Associate's degree | +4.4% | 11,200 |
| 33 | Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 | $51,724 | Associate's degree | +12.6% | 8,200 |
| 34 | Chemical Technician | $60,390 | $50,703 | Associate's degree | +4.9% | 7,600 |
| 35 | Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician | $59,920 | $50,326 | Associate's degree | +3.1% | 1,100 |
| 36 | Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $50,044 | Associate's degree | -3.1% | 1,600 |
| 37 | Embalmer | $58,780 | $49,410 | Associate's degree | +0.7% | 700 |
| 38 | Desktop Publisher | $55,290 | $46,606 | Associate's degree | -14.5% | 300 |
| 39 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | $46,445 | Associate's degree | +6.9% | 5,300 |
| 40 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $55,010 | $46,381 | Associate's degree | +3.0% | 3,000 |
| 41 | Forest and Conservation Technician | $54,560 | $46,019 | Associate's degree | -2.1% | 3,800 |
| 42 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,350 | $45,047 | Associate's degree | +3.6% | 1,000 |
| 43 | Food Science Technician | $52,130 | $44,066 | Associate's degree | +4.8% | 3,000 |
| 44 | Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 | $42,845 | Associate's degree | -6.2% | 7,900 |
| 45 | Agricultural Technician | $49,630 | $42,058 | Associate's degree | +5.4% | 2,800 |
| 46 | Veterinary Technologist and Technician | $47,380 | $40,250 | Associate's degree | +9.4% | 13,400 |
| 47 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | $32,825 | Associate's degree | +4.5% | 66,700 |
| 48 | Dietetic Technician | $37,640 | $32,424 | Associate's degree | +2.7% | 4,200 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal tax and FICA, no state income tax. Pick your state in the calculator below to see your own number. Average growth for all jobs: 3.5%.
What would #1 take home in your state?
Your take-home pay
$112,479
per year · effective tax rate 24.0%
$9,373Monthly
$4,687Twice a month
$4,326Every 2 weeks
$54.08Hourly
- Federal income tax$24,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,181
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,147
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$112,479
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying job with an associate’s degree?
Air Traffic Controllers earn a median $148,080 a year (BLS, May 2025). Typical entry education: associate's degree.
Where does this data come from?
Salaries are U.S. median wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Education, openings and growth come from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Take-home pay uses 2026 federal tax rules for a single filer in a state with no income tax.