
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Los Angeles
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles 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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#40. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $34,990
- Employment: 2,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $35,620
- Employment: 17,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#38. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $43,690
- Employment: 4,620
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#37. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,160
- Employment: 2,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,150
- Employment: 2,620
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
#35. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,280
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110

#34. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $50,530
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#33. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 2,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760

#32. Embalmers
- Annual mean salary: $52,650
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,100
- Employment: 3,890

#31. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $55,120
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
#30. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,520
- Employment: 1,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#29. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $56,960
- Employment: 16,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $59,250
- Employment: 1,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#27. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $61,610
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370

#26. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $62,150
- Employment: 2,370
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#25. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $62,490
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#24. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $63,390
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290

#23. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $64,600
- Employment: 1,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210

#22. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $65,250
- Employment: 4,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#21. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,990
- Employment: 5,950
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $67,470
- Employment: 1,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
#19. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $67,480
- Employment: 1,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#18. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $68,890
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 1,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820

#16. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 5,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $71,280
- Employment: 3,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870

#14. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $73,620
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#13. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $73,750
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#12. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $74,610
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- Employment: 11,540
#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,390
- Employment: 1,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#10. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $79,910
- Employment: 6,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#9. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $81,070
- Employment: 7,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $82,460
- Employment: 5,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $98,030
- Employment: 2,360
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $99,860
- Employment: 1,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900

#5. Funeral home managers
- Annual mean salary: $100,490
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,220
- Employment: 9,400
#4. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $103,350
- Employment: 6,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#3. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $111,400
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#2. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $117,060
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $135,500
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090


