Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Indianapolis

Written by:
February 1, 2021
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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Indianapolis

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 Indianapolis 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

#33. Preschool teachers, except special education

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $28,600
- Employment: 2,850

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

#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $31,810
- Employment: 560

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

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $40,530
- Employment: 610

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

#30. Chemical technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $45,610
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
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#29. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $46,080
- Employment: 40

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

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $46,430
- Employment: 220

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

#27. Medical equipment repairers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $49,190
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
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#26. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $50,370
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
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#25. Occupational therapy assistants

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $50,500
- Employment: 630

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

#24. Mechanical drafters

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $51,770
- Employment: 330

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

#23. Paralegals and legal assistants

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 2,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
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#22. Dietetic technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,880
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#21. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,500
- Employment: 360

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

#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,700
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#19. Respiratory therapists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,790
- Employment: 1,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
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#18. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,930
- Employment: 510

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

#17. Avionics technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#16. Architectural and civil drafters

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
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#15. Physical therapist assistants

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,030
- Employment: 860

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

#14. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,310
- Employment: data not available

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

#13. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $62,230
- Employment: 520

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

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $62,640
- Employment: 1,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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#11. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#10. Web developers and digital interface designers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,570
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
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#9. Electrical and electronics drafters

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $65,340
- Employment: 40

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

#8. Computer network support specialists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $66,590
- Employment: 740

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
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#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $69,770
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
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#6. Dental hygienists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $70,940
- Employment: 1,720

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
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#5. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $71,830
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- Employment: 11,540
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $74,710
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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#3. Nuclear medicine technologists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $76,340
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
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#2. Radiation therapists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $80,970
- Employment: 140

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

#1. Air traffic controllers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $138,010
- Employment: 440

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

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