
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Wichita
Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Wichita
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 Wichita 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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#28. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $32,060
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650

#27. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $33,050
- Employment: 570
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

#26. Chemical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $37,970
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- Employment: 65,760

#25. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
- Annual mean salary: $39,030
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,620
- Employment: 117,340

#24. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Annual mean salary: $42,690
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 32,620

#23. Medical equipment repairers
- Annual mean salary: $42,760
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- Employment: 46,370
#22. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Annual mean salary: $46,420
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- Employment: 329,870
#21. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,540
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,480
- Employment: 68,870

#20. Broadcast technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,840
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,800
- Employment: 28,650
#19. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $49,080
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110

#18. Computer network support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $49,540
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 185,430

#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,810
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 42,820
#16. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $51,610
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360

#15. Architectural and civil drafters
- Annual mean salary: $55,180
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- Employment: 98,800
#14. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $55,530
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090

#13. Embalmers
- Annual mean salary: $55,780
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,100
- Employment: 3,890

#12. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Annual mean salary: $55,940
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 25,440
#11. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,090
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 67,110

#10. Mechanical drafters
- Annual mean salary: $57,470
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 55,210

#9. Web developers and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $58,770
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 148,340

#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $60,330
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 122,550
#7. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,880
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
#6. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $62,520
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840

#5. Avionics technicians
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,970
- Employment: 21,750
#4. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $67,270
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
#3. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $69,460
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
#2. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $71,650
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- Employment: 11,540
#1. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $77,820
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790

