Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Asheville

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February 1, 2021
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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Asheville

The American economy is increasingly becoming one in which a high school education is simply not enough. Of the 55 million job openings expected from 2010 to 2020, only 36% will require a high school education or less, 30% will require some college or an associate degree, while 35% will require at least a bachelor's degree, according Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workplace.

Attaining an associate degree or better for 25- to 29-year-olds increased from 38% to 46% between 2000 to 2017, while bachelors degree attainment or better increased from 29% to 36%, and attainment of master's degrees or higher grew grown from 5% to 9%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. While the largest percentage of U.S. workers only hold a high school diploma—with the second-highest percentage belonging to those with baccalaureate degrees—the number of holders of an associate or technical degree is rising.

Fortunately, the number of associate degree-friendly positions is growing. Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying jobs that require a 2-year degree in Asheville using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With many people finding the cost of a four-year education too high, given the rising cost of tuition and stagnant wage growth, it's encouraging to know that there are obtainable, well-paying professions for those with a two-year degree. While a bachelor's degree holder can be expected to make about $500,000 more in lifetime earnings compared with an associate degree holder, the jobs we have listed show the exceptions.

Keep reading to learn about some well-paying gigs you can land with an associate degree.

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CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#22. Preschool teachers, except special education

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $31,460
- Employment: 570

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#21. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $33,940
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#20. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $38,880
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
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Queryzo // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Forest and conservation technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#18. Paralegals and legal assistants

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $47,200
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
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#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $48,040
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
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Canva

#16. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $48,590
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
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Canva

#15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $49,050
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
9 / 22
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#14. Computer network support specialists

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $51,570
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#12. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
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Gearstd // Shutterstock

#11. Mechanical drafters

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $52,350
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,600
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#9. Web developers and digital interface designers

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,060
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#8. Respiratory therapists

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,750
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
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Canva

#7. Physical therapist assistants

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $59,470
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
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Canva

#6. Dental hygienists

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,220
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#5. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
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Canva

#4. Occupational therapy assistants

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $66,080
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
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Lighthunter // Shutterstock

#3. Medical equipment repairers

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $66,510
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $68,770
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#1. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Asheville, NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,370
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

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