Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Sacramento
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Sacramento
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 Sacramento 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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#33. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $33,470
- Employment: 3,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,400
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#31. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,210
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060
#30. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,910
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#29. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,250
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650

#28. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $46,030
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $51,670
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#26. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
#25. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,360
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#24. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $55,110
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110

#23. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $56,290
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
#22. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,160
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290
#21. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 1,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870

#20. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $62,090
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#19. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,150
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#18. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
#17. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $65,840
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140

#16. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $67,020
- Employment: 720
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800

#15. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $70,120
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550

#14. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $71,250
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#13. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $71,920
- Employment: 940
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#12. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $75,470
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $81,260
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#10. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $92,580
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#9. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $94,040
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $96,750
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
#7. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $97,450
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#6. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $98,810
- Employment: 930
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
#5. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $101,030
- Employment: 1,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $118,880
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#3. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $124,720
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#2. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $127,930
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $151,660
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,140
- Employment: 22,090


