Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Denver

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February 1, 2021
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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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $33,470
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
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CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $35,320
- Employment: 3,260

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

#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $37,700
- Employment: 1,650

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

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $46,090
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
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Queryzo // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Forest and conservation technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $49,150
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#30. Chemical technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,060
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
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#29. Physical therapist assistants

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $55,430
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#28. Broadcast technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,010
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
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#27. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,110
- Employment: 720

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

#26. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,390
- Employment: 100

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

#25. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $59,550
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
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#23. Occupational therapy assistants

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $59,960
- Employment: 380

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

#22. Avionics technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $62,370
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
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#21. Electrical and electronics drafters

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $62,390
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
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#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $63,600
- Employment: 290

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

#19. Respiratory therapists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $64,590
- Employment: 1,130

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

#18. Mechanical drafters

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $64,680
- Employment: 240

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

#17. Paralegals and legal assistants

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 3,680

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

#16. Medical equipment repairers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $65,400
- Employment: 510

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

#15. Desktop publishers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $65,450
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
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#14. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $66,020
- Employment: 140

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

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $67,150
- Employment: 1,390

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

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $69,080
- Employment: 1,860

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#11. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $70,080
- Employment: 180

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

#10. Computer network support specialists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $74,280
- Employment: 3,130

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

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $75,960
- Employment: 980

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $77,810
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#7. Web developers and digital interface designers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $79,160
- Employment: 2,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
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#6. Nuclear medicine technologists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $84,450
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
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#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $85,400
- Employment: 240

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

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $85,990
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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#3. Dental hygienists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $90,030
- Employment: 2,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
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#2. Radiation therapists

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $96,270
- Employment: 110

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

#1. Air traffic controllers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Annual mean salary: $123,360
- Employment: 300

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

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