
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Memphis
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Memphis
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 Memphis 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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#31. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $24,500
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
#30. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $28,150
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#29. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $34,860
- Employment: 1,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $37,040
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
#27. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $38,190
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010

#26. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $39,370
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#25. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $41,560
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#24. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $42,800
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
#23. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $43,590
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#22. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,400
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#21. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,870
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110

#20. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,060
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760

#19. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#18. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,990
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
#17. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $51,580
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110
#16. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
#15. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $54,180
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#14. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,980
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,250
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#12. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#11. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $57,520
- Employment: 790
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#10. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,590
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $58,030
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900

#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $59,390
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550

#7. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $59,940
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#6. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $61,670
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140

#5. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $64,740
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#4. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#2. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $71,640
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#1. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $74,670
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860


