Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Jackson

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February 1, 2021
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Jackson

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 Jackson 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

#26. Preschool teachers, except special education

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $27,960
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
2 / 26
Canva

#25. Dietetic technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $33,300
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
3 / 26
Canva

#24. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $38,340
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
4 / 26
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#23. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $38,890
- Employment: data not available

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

#22. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $38,980
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
6 / 26
Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#21. Broadcast technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $39,390
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $41,200
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#19. Chemical technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $46,060
- Employment: 40

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

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $46,300
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
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Canva

#17. Physical therapist assistants

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $46,500
- Employment: 180

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

#16. Medical equipment repairers

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $47,220
- Employment: 90

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

#15. Paralegals and legal assistants

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $49,400
- Employment: 950

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

#14. Respiratory therapists

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $52,190
- Employment: 400

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

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $54,380
- Employment: 120

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

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $54,620
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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#11. Occupational therapy assistants

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $60,080
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
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Canva

#10. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $62,190
- Employment: 70

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

#9. Dental hygienists

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $64,520
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $64,840
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#7. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $67,040
- Employment: 200

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

#6. Mechanical drafters

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $67,240
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#5. Web developers and digital interface designers

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $67,820
- Employment: 170

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

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $72,380
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
24 / 26
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#3. Computer network support specialists

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $81,810
- Employment: 430

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

#2. Air traffic controllers

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $82,810
- Employment: 30

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

#1. Radiation therapists

Jackson, MS
- Annual mean salary: $84,720
- Employment: 40

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

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