Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Cleveland
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Cleveland
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 Cleveland 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: $29,580
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $30,270
- Employment: 3,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#33. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $31,870
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $41,680
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#30. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $45,440
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
#29. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $48,320
- Employment: 3,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870

#28. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,990
- Employment: 760
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760

#27. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $52,240
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
#26. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,790
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010

#25. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $54,280
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
#24. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $54,330
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#22 (tie). Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,800
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#22 (tie). Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,800
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290

#21. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $56,920
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#20. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,370
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650

#19. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $57,480
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740

#18. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,610
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820

#17. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $57,640
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#16. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,810
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110

#15. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $59,020
- Employment: 1,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430

#14. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $59,330
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
#13. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $59,660
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#12. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $60,450
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#11. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $61,070
- Employment: 840
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $61,490
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $61,500
- Employment: 1,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#8. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $61,720
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#7. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $66,360
- Employment: 2,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $69,020
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $69,150
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790

#4. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#3. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $78,370
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#2. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $80,030
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $137,370
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090



