Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Nashville
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Nashville
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 Nashville 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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#35. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $27,550
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $30,260
- Employment: 2,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $38,540
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#32. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $39,970
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $41,110
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#30. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,400
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#29. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,770
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#28. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,930
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#27. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,000
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110

#26. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $48,490
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#25. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $49,010
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#24. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $49,550
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820

#23. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,490
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#22. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,570
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360

#21. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $53,930
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#20. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $54,340
- Employment: 1,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#19. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
#18. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $55,890
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#17. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,320
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#16. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,080
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110
#15. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $58,710
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
#14. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,790
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110

#13. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $59,260
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#12. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $59,420
- Employment: 1,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#11. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,900
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840

#10. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $62,960
- Employment: 790
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340

#9. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,110
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#8. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $66,960
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900

#6. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $70,140
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#4. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $77,200
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#3. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $80,350
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110

#2. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $81,790
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370

#1. Funeral home managers
- Annual mean salary: $86,720
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,220
- Employment: 9,400



