Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Springfield

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February 1, 2021
Hitdelight // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Springfield

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 Springfield 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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CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#26. Preschool teachers, except special education

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $29,330
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
2 / 26
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#25. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $29,580
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#24. Broadcast technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $34,920
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#23. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $36,960
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340
5 / 26
Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#22. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $37,960
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#21. Paralegals and legal assistants

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $38,290
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
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Lighthunter // Shutterstock

#20. Medical equipment repairers

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $40,200
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
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Canva

#19. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $40,530
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#18. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $44,090
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
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Gearstd // Shutterstock

#17. Mechanical drafters

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $46,060
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#16. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $48,380
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- Employment: 14,370
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#15. Chemical technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $48,530
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760
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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#14. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $51,350
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
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Canva

#13. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $52,140
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#12. Respiratory therapists

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $52,160
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#11. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $52,200
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
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Canva

#10. Physical therapist assistants

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $53,950
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#9. Computer network support specialists

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $54,370
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#8. Web developers and digital interface designers

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340
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Canva

#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $56,170
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
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Canva

#6. Occupational therapy assistants

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $59,270
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#5. Architectural and civil drafters

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
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Canva

#4. Electrical and electronics drafters

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $61,540
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 24,140
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $69,710
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
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Canva

#2. Nuclear medicine technologists

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $73,300
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
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Canva

#1. Dental hygienists

Springfield, MO
- Annual mean salary: $79,610
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560

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