Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Minneapolis
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Minneapolis
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 Minneapolis 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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#36. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,970
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
#35. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $39,640
- Employment: 2,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $40,190
- Employment: 6,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#33. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $45,480
- Employment: 2,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#32. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,030
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060

#31. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $48,140
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#30. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $52,510
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#29. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $52,840
- Employment: 1,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#28. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,230
- Employment: 1,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#27. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,310
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010

#26. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,520
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#25. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $55,490
- Employment: 2,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110

#24. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $56,110
- Employment: 1,490
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#23. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $56,130
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620
#22. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $57,680
- Employment: 850
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840

#21. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,050
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#20. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,050
- Employment: 4,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#19. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $60,110
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290

#18. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 1,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210

#17. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- Employment: 1,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#16. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,820
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110

#15. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,700
- Employment: 1,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
#14. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,900
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870

#13. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 3,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $69,550
- Employment: 2,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#11. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $69,690
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#10. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $70,460
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
#9. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $72,250
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#8. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $76,940
- Employment: 3,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560

#7. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $79,520
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
#6. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $80,870
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $81,480
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $81,600
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790

#3. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $83,720
- Employment: 2,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#2. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $87,760
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $136,750
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090


