Highest-Paying Jobs With an Associate Degree
Answer
Air Traffic Controllers ($148,080), Nuclear Technicians ($110,240), Radiation Therapists ($105,310) top this list. Two-year degrees lead to some of the best-paid jobs that do not need a bachelor's, especially in imaging and therapy fields where an accredited program, a national exam and a state license are the usual path. Air traffic controllers top the list but are hired and trained by the FAA, which sets its own entry routes and age limits.
How this ranking works
Includes: BLS typical entry education is an associate's degree; at least 5,000 US jobs. Ranked by: Median annual wage. Data: BLS OEWS, May 2025; typical entry education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Occupations without a published median and the residual “all other” categories are left out. Methodology
| 1 | Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | $71.19 | 22,510 | Associate's degree | +1.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nuclear Technicians | $110,240 | $53.00 | 6,470 | Associate's degree | +1.1% |
| 3 | Radiation Therapists | $105,310 | $50.63 | 17,070 | Associate's degree | +2.8% |
| 4 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $101,370 | $48.74 | 17,080 | Associate's degree | +4.4% |
| 5 | Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | $47.16 | 222,740 | Associate's degree | +8.0% |
| 6 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $96,590 | $46.44 | 90,160 | Associate's degree | +13.9% |
| 7 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $95,480 | $45.91 | 43,390 | Associate's degree | +7.7% |
| 8 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 | 11,280 | Associate's degree | +11.9% |
| 9 | Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | $39.56 | 139,790 | Associate's degree | +8.5% |
| 10 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 | 230,490 | Associate's degree | +5.0% |
| 11 | Funeral Home Managers | $78,790 | $37.88 | 13,910 | Associate's degree | +4.1% |
| 12 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 | 95,130 | Associate's degree | +2.4% |
| 13 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | $36.96 | 17,920 | Associate's degree | −3.4% |
| 14 | Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | $36.64 | 146,190 | Associate's degree | +1.2% |
| 15 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 | 36,190 | Associate's degree | +1.3% |
| 16 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 | 62,960 | Associate's degree | +3.7% |
| 17 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 | 15,520 | Associate's degree | +2.6% |
| 18 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | $72,300 | $34.76 | 51,290 | Associate's degree | +21.5% |
| 19 | Mechanical Drafters | $71,550 | $34.40 | 39,960 | Associate's degree | −6.0% |
| 20 | Physical Therapist Assistants | $68,380 | $32.88 | 112,430 | Associate's degree | +23.0% |
| 21 | Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $68,020 | $32.70 | 38,100 | Associate's degree | +15.9% |
| 22 | Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 | 16,540 | Associate's degree | +4.8% |
| 23 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 | 103,700 | Associate's degree | +5.2% |
| 24 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 | 75,570 | Associate's degree | +3.1% |
| 25 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 | 68,520 | Associate's degree | +3.2% |
| 26 | Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | $63,520 | $30.54 | 11,140 | Associate's degree | +1.2% |
| 27 | Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,890 | $30.24 | 392,880 | Associate's degree | −0.3% |
| 28 | Medical Equipment Repairers | $61,660 | $29.64 | 65,990 | Associate's degree | +12.6% |
| 29 | Chemical Technicians | $60,390 | $29.03 | 57,540 | Associate's degree | +4.9% |
| 30 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 | 12,190 | Associate's degree | +3.1% |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national cross-industry estimates; projections and typical entry education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Occupation names are the official BLS titles; linked names have a full pay and how-to-become page on this site.