The 30 highest-paying jobs you can get with an associate degree

Air Traffic Controller
USACE HQ/Flickr

Don't have the time or money to get a bachelor's degree?

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It turns out that plenty of two-year associate degrees have a high return on investment.

According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 30 highest-paying jobs that require only an associate degree.

Each has a median annual salary of at least $48,000.

This is an update of a story originally written by Vivian Giang.

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30. Respiratory therapy technicians

respiratory therapist
Medill DC/flickr

They provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians. 

Median annual wage (2015): $48,490

Projected job openings (through 2024): 1,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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29. Environmental engineering technicians

Environmental Engineer, study, science, earth
VideosatNSF via YouTube

They modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems like waste treatment and site remediation under the direction of engineering staff or scientist.

Median annual wage (2015): $48,650

Projected job openings (through 2024): 6,400

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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27. Civil engineering technicians

civil engineer
Flickr/USACEpublicaffairs

They plan, design, and oversee construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

Median annual wage (2015): $49,260

Projected job openings (through 2024): 21,600

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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26. Architectural and civil drafters

architect
goodluz/shutterstock

They prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects like highways, bridges, and public works.

Median annual wage (2015): $50,710

Projected job openings (through 2024): 11,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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25. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

Cell tower worker
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

They repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles.

Median annual wage (2015): $51,660

Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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24. Electro-mechanical technicians

electro tech
Official U.S. Navy Page/flickr

They install, troubleshoot, repair, and upgrade electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems, like robotic assembly machines.

Median annual wage (2015): $53,340

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,700

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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23. Mechanical drafters

drafting
Henning Larsen Architects - Umea School Of Architecture/flickr

They prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

Median annual wage (2015): $53,520

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,800

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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22. Industrial-engineering technicians

industrial engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael J. Nevins/flickr

They help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices. 

Median annual wage (2015): $53,780

Projected job openings (through 2024): 16,300

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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21. Mechanical-engineering technicians

manufacturing
Flickr/Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives

They design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment.

Median annual wage (2015): $53,910

Projected job openings (through 2024): 12,800

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Heart surgery with tablet
Professor Karl Oldhafer, chief physician of general and visceral surgery at the Asklepios Hospital Hamburg-Barmbek, performs liver surgery, one of the first surgeries of its kind in Germany with the support of a tablet computer to access and visualize planning data. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

They use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac and blood vessel ailments in patients.

Median annual wage (2015): $55,170

Projected job openings (through 2024): 54,700

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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19. Physical-therapist assistants

physical therapist
David Rogers/Getty Images

They help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries regain movement and manage pain.

Median annual wage (2015): $55,170

Projected job openings (through 2024): 54,700

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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18. Geological and petroleum technicians

Geologist
miguelb/Flickr

They provide support to scientists and engineers in exploring and extracting natural resources, like minerals, oil, and natural gas.

Median annual wage (2015): $55,610

Projected job openings (through 2024): 8,000

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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17. Radiologic technologists

Radiologist
flickr/offtut_afb

They perform diagnostic imaging examinations, like X-rays, on patients.

Median annual wage (2015): $56,670

Projected job openings (through 2024): 54,400

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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16. Respiratory therapists

respiratory therapist
COD Newsroom/flickr

They care for patients who have trouble breathing like premature infants with undeveloped lungs or elderly patients who have diseased lungs. They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock.

Median annual wage (2015): $57,790

Projected job openings (through 2024): 43,300

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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15. Occupational-therapy assistants

occupational therapist
Flickr/The US Army

They aid work under the direction of occupational therapists in treating patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.

Median annual wage (2015): $57,870

Projected job openings (through 2024): 23,600

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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14. Avionics technicians

Aircraft Carrier
AP

They install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, like radar, radio, navigation, and missile-control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

Median annual wage (2015): $58,540

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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13. Electrical and electronics drafters

electrical computer
UC Davis College of Engineering/Watson Lu/flickr

They prepare wiring diagrams, circuit-board-assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

Median annual wage (2015): $59,520

Projected job openings (through 2024): 5,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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12. Electrical and electronics-engineering technicians

 gm general motors electric car plant baltimore
GM

They help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment.

Median annual wage (2015): $61,130

Projected job openings (through 2024): 34,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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11. Computer-network-support specialists

telemarketer, internet company, phones
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

They analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, like local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and internet systems, or a segment of a network system.

Median annual wage (2015): $62,250

Projected job openings (through 2024): 36,900

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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10. Web developer

overhead shot of developers at google's glass foundry
Google Developers/Google+

They design, create, and modify websites.

Median annual wage (2015): $64,970

Projected job openings (through 2024): 58,600

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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9. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians

Bigelow Aerospace Module
NASA/Bill Ingalls

They operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.

Median annual wage (2015): $66,180

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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8. Magnetic-resonance-imaging technologists

brain scan desk
Reuters/Stephen Hird

They monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of areas being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.

Median annual wage (2015): $67,720

Projected job openings (through 2024): 9,800

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

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7. Diagnostic medical sonographers

sonographer ultrasound
Flickr/justin

They use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient's body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

Median annual wage (2015): $68,970

Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,500

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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6. Funeral-service managers

Funeral home casket
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

They plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes.

Median annual wage (2015): $70,890

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,400

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

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5. Dental hygienists

dentist teeth dental child
AP

They clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.

Median annual wage (2015): $72,330

Projected job openings (through 2024): 70,300

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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4. Nuclear-medicine technologists

doctors
Fotos GOVBA/Flickr

They use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient's body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.

Median annual wage (2015): $73,360

Projected job openings (through 2024): 4,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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3. Radiation therapists

hospital cat scan surgery doctors
Theo Heimann/Getty Images

They check equipment, observe patients' reactions to treatment, and document sessions.

Median annual wage (2015): $80,220

Projected job openings (through 2024): 6,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

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2. Nuclear technicians

nuclear site
A nuclear missile silo is opened for inspection by the Russian rocket forces, at a site about 70 kilometres from Saratov, November 12, 1994. Reuters

They assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production.

Median annual wage (2015): $80,260

Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,800

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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1. Air-traffic controller

air traffic controller
Wikimedia Commons

They monitor and direct the movement of aircraft.

Median annual wage (2015): $122,950

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,500

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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