Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Denver
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Denver
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 Denver 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: $33,470
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $35,320
- Employment: 3,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $37,700
- Employment: 1,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $46,090
- Employment: 1,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#31. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $49,150
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060

#30. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,060
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#29. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $55,430
- Employment: 840
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840

#28. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,010
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#27. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,110
- Employment: 720
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870

#26. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $57,390
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#25. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#24. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $59,550
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
#23. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $59,960
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#22. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $62,370
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#21. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $62,390
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $63,600
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
#19. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $64,590
- Employment: 1,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#18. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $64,680
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#17. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 3,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870

#16. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $65,400
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#15. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $65,450
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#14. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,020
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010

#13. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $67,150
- Employment: 1,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $69,080
- Employment: 1,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360

#11. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $70,080
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820

#10. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $74,280
- Employment: 3,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $75,960
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,810
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110

#7. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $79,160
- Employment: 2,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#6. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $84,450
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $85,400
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $85,990
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#3. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $90,030
- Employment: 2,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#2. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $96,270
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $123,360
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090


