Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Richmond
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Richmond
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 Richmond 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
#33. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $35,920
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#32. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $36,000
- Employment: 1,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#31. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $37,300
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#30. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $40,320
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
#29. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $40,580
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#28. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $44,070
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
#27. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,120
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110

#26. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,500
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#25. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,930
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
#24. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $47,100
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140

#23. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,950
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#22. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,780
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#21. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,850
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#20. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $49,580
- Employment: 2,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870

#19. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $53,940
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#18. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $54,400
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440

#17. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $54,870
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
#16. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $59,150
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $60,490
- Employment: 1,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#14. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $61,490
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#13. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $62,830
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#12. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $63,320
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#11. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $66,510
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560

#10. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- Employment: 1,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $68,230
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900

#8. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $68,850
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
#7. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $69,270
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
#6. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $73,600
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $74,010
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790

#4. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $76,570
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550

#3. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $78,290
- Employment: 730
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340

#2. Nuclear technicians
- Annual mean salary: $91,350
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,710
- Employment: 6,420
#1. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $105,210
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860



