Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Los Angeles

Written by:
February 1, 2021
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

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.

You may also like: People who retire comfortably avoid these financial advisor mistakes

1 / 40
Canva

#40. Dietetic technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $34,990
- Employment: 2,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
2 / 40
CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $35,620
- Employment: 17,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
3 / 40
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#38. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,690
- Employment: 4,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
4 / 40
Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#37. Broadcast technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $45,160
- Employment: 2,210

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
5 / 40
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $47,150
- Employment: 2,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
6 / 40
U.S. Geological Survey // Flickr

#35. Geological and hydrologic technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $50,280
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110
7 / 40
Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#34. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $50,530
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
8 / 40
Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#33. Chemical technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 2,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
9 / 40
NKM999 // Shutterstock

#32. Embalmers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $52,650
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,100
- Employment: 3,890
10 / 40
Queryzo // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Forest and conservation technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $55,120
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
11 / 40
Canva

#30. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $56,520
- Employment: 1,530

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
12 / 40
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#29. Paralegals and legal assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $56,960
- Employment: 16,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
13 / 40
photodiem // Shutterstock

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $59,250
- Employment: 1,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
14 / 40
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

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

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $61,610
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
15 / 40
Lighthunter // Shutterstock

#26. Medical equipment repairers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $62,150
- Employment: 2,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
16 / 40
GOLFX // Shutterstock

#25. Desktop publishers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $62,490
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
17 / 40
Canva

#24. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $63,390
- Employment: 1,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
18 / 40
Gearstd // Shutterstock

#23. Mechanical drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $64,600
- Employment: 1,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
19 / 40
Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#22. Architectural and civil drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $65,250
- Employment: 4,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
20 / 40
anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#21. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $66,990
- Employment: 5,950

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
21 / 40
Canva

#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $67,470
- Employment: 1,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
22 / 40
Canva

#19. Physical therapist assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $67,480
- Employment: 1,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
23 / 40
Canva

#18. Occupational therapy assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $68,890
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
24 / 40
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 1,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
25 / 40
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#16. Computer network support specialists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 5,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
26 / 40
Canva

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $71,280
- Employment: 3,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
27 / 40
Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

#14. Avionics technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $73,620
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
28 / 40
Canva

#13. Electrical and electronics drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $73,750
- Employment: 1,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
29 / 40
Canva

#12. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,610
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- Employment: 11,540
30 / 40
Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $77,390
- Employment: 1,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
31 / 40
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#10. Respiratory therapists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $79,910
- Employment: 6,640

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
32 / 40
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#9. Web developers and digital interface designers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,070
- Employment: 7,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
33 / 40
lenetstan // Shutterstock

#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $82,460
- Employment: 5,860

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
34 / 40
SofikoS // Shutterstock

#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $98,030
- Employment: 2,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
35 / 40
Canva

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,860
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
36 / 40
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#5. Funeral home managers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $100,490
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,220
- Employment: 9,400
37 / 40
Canva

#4. Dental hygienists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $103,350
- Employment: 6,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
38 / 40
Canva

#3. Nuclear medicine technologists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $111,400
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
39 / 40
Canva

#2. Radiation therapists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,060
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
40 / 40
Burben // Shutterstock

#1. Air traffic controllers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $135,500
- Employment: 610

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

Trending Now