Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Atlanta

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February 1, 2021
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Atlanta

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 Atlanta 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

#37. Preschool teachers, except special education

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 7,990

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

#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $32,260
- Employment: 2,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
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Canva

#35. Dietetic technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $34,680
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
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NKM999 // Shutterstock

#34. Embalmers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $37,460
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,100
- Employment: 3,890
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#33. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $41,850
- Employment: 1,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
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photodiem // Shutterstock

#32. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $47,090
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#31. Broadcast technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $47,490
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
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GOLFX // Shutterstock

#30. Desktop publishers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $48,070
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
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Canva

#29. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $48,410
- Employment: 750

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

#28. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $49,180
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#27. Chemical technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 1,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
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Lighthunter // Shutterstock

#26. Medical equipment repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $52,300
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
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Canva

#25. Physical therapist assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $52,890
- Employment: 1,450

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

#24. Electrical and electronics drafters

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $54,580
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#23. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#22. Paralegals and legal assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,560
- Employment: 8,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
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Canva

#21. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,900
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#20. Architectural and civil drafters

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $58,600
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
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Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#19. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,030
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#18. Respiratory therapists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- Employment: 2,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,940
- Employment: 150

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

#16. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $61,470
- Employment: 3,190

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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Gearstd // Shutterstock

#15. Mechanical drafters

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 470

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

#14. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $62,130
- Employment: 1,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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Canva

#13. Occupational therapy assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $63,550
- Employment: 610

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

#12. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 770

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

#11. Avionics technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,600
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
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Canva

#10. Dental hygienists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $67,680
- Employment: 3,720

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

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $68,110
- Employment: 2,290

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

#8. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $70,190
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#7. Computer network support specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $72,340
- Employment: 5,450

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
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Canva

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $72,920
- Employment: 900

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#5. Funeral home managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $77,650
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,220
- Employment: 9,400
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Canva

#4. Nuclear medicine technologists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
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Canva

#3. Radiation therapists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $89,050
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#2. Web developers and digital interface designers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $89,100
- Employment: 2,720

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

#1. Air traffic controllers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $142,010
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090

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