Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Charlotte
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Charlotte
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 Charlotte 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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#35. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $22,540
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $26,530
- Employment: 4,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,720
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#32. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,560
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $39,350
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#30. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $42,610
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#29. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $42,870
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#28. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,430
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650

#27. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,130
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#26. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $47,140
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#25. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,420
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870

#24. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $51,390
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#23. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $51,630
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
#22. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $51,690
- Employment: 3,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#21. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $52,540
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110

#20. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $55,990
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#19. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,710
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#18. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,130
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- Employment: 1,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360

#16. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $58,650
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
#15. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $58,710
- Employment: 1,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#14. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $59,740
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
#13. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,310
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#12. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $64,510
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $68,160
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#10. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $69,570
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $70,360
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550

#8. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $70,540
- Employment: 1,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430

#7. Funeral home managers
- Annual mean salary: $70,630
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,220
- Employment: 9,400
#6. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $70,870
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $72,670
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#4. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $74,900
- Employment: 2,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560

#3. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $76,150
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#2. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $79,270
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860

#1. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $83,480
- Employment: 1,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340



