Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Columbus

Written by:
February 1, 2021
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Columbus

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 Columbus 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

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,050
- Employment: 3,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
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Canva

#33. Dietetic technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $35,260
- Employment: 150

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

#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $37,690
- Employment: 930

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

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $39,590
- Employment: 1,470

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

#30. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $41,420
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
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Canva

#29. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $42,930
- Employment: 100

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

#28. Medical equipment repairers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $48,510
- Employment: 490

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

#27. Chemical technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $49,530
- Employment: 310

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

#26. Paralegals and legal assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $50,280
- Employment: 2,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#25. Broadcast technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $51,010
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
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U.S. Geological Survey // Flickr

#24. Geological and hydrologic technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $51,230
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110
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Canva

#23. Physical therapist assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $54,000
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
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Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#22. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- Employment: 260

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

#21. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $55,570
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Canva

#20. Occupational therapy assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $57,060
- Employment: 290

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

#19. Respiratory therapists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $57,480
- Employment: 920

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

#18. Architectural and civil drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $58,150
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
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Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

#17. Avionics technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#16. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $58,830
- Employment: 440

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

#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $59,470
- Employment: 1,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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Canva

#14. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $60,220
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
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Gearstd // Shutterstock

#13. Mechanical drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $61,780
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
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Canva

#12. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $62,590
- Employment: 670

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

#11. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $65,600
- Employment: 580

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

#10. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $66,680
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
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Canva

#9. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $66,690
- Employment: 60

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

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $68,990
- Employment: 410

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

#7. Electrical and electronics drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $70,110
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#6. Computer network support specialists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $71,040
- Employment: 1,700

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

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

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $72,540
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
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Canva

#4. Nuclear medicine technologists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $72,780
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#3. Web developers and digital interface designers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $72,860
- Employment: 1,390

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
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Canva

#2. Dental hygienists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $73,170
- Employment: 1,580

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
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Canva

#1. Radiation therapists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $92,850
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860

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