Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Seattle
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Seattle
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 Seattle 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. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $36,270
- Employment: 7,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#34. Desktop publishers
- Annual mean salary: $40,500
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 8,740
#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $40,790
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
#32. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $41,090
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230

#31. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,490
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760

#30. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $46,810
- Employment: 1,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#29. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,030
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650

#28. Forest and conservation technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,540
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,860
- Employment: 19,060

#27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $56,890
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#26. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $57,610
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370

#25. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $60,080
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370

#24. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $61,020
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
#23. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 810
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
#22. Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $63,160
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- Employment: 17,110

#21. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $63,850
- Employment: 1,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $64,890
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
#19. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $65,180
- Employment: 4,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#18. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $66,250
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990

#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $69,870
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820

#16. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $71,020
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $71,210
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
#14. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $73,380
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
#13. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $73,710
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 18,010
#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $76,540
- Employment: 2,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
#11. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $80,390
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- Employment: 14,290

#10. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $88,560
- Employment: 1,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210

#9. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $90,050
- Employment: 2,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
#8. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Annual mean salary: $92,590
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $93,170
- Employment: 950
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
#6. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $94,930
- Employment: 3,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#5. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $97,970
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- Employment: 11,540
#4. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $99,920
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
#3. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
#2. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $103,890
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860

#1. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $138,600
- Employment: 12,510
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340


