Ten High-Paying Jobs that Associate Degree Holders Should Consider

Building a successful career without necessarily pursuing higher education is absolutely possible, but getting a degree will definitely give you a better chance of landing a well-paying job. This includes an associate degree. With an associate's degree, you get to lay the proper foundation for a high-paying career. In this article, we will be looking at how achieving an associate degree can put you on the path to success and into the top ten high-paying careers in this field.

What is an Associate Degree and Why You Should Get One?

An associate degree is considered a 2-year undergraduate degree, which gives students a basic education in their field of study. After that, they can either choose to make use of their associate degree and move to a 4-year university to further their bachelor's degree or take the knowledge and skills gained and join the workforce.

So, what’s the advantage of pursuing an associate’s degree instead of just skipping post-secondary education? Most employers require that applicants have a minimum of an associate's degree before they can apply for any opening. With an associate degree, more chances are open to you, which can involve either preparing for a new one or advancing in your current one. Furthermore, associate degree programs allow you to complete your degree when and how you want, making it ideal for non-traditional students.

High-Paying Associate Degree Career Paths

If you have an associate's degree or are planning on getting one and are considering a high-paying job, below are some of the top career choices to consider.

Radiation Therapist

The primary function of a radiation therapist is to carry out radiation treatment prescribed by a radiologist. They are responsible for keeping track of patients' details, preparing equipment, and administering prescribed doses to their patients. They also need to watch their patients for side effects or issues and, at the same time, educate family members on how the procedure and treatment work. This is another high-paying career to consider, as they earn about $95,000 annually.

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Registered Nurse

Another high-paying job that associate degree holders can consider is working as a registered nurse. The primary role of a registered nurse is to keep track of, record, and monitor patients’ health status. They work with patients every day by performing tests, answering questions, and providing treatments for them. As a registered nurse, you can also administer treatment and medication in line with the patient’s treatment schedule by a medical doctor. By working as a registered nurse, you earn about $80,000 per annum.

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Store Manager

A store manager is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of a store, and this requires lots of multitasking. As a store manager, you are required to be personable, organized, and responsible to ensure that everything is working smoothly. With an associate's degree, you are able to display that you can take up certain tasks such as ordering supplies, effectively scheduling employees, and tracking inventory. As a store manager, you get to earn about $48,000 per year.

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Dietary Technician

They are also referred to as dietary aides, as they work together with dietitians to assist clients with dietary issues. The aim and objective of a dietary technician is to help people improve their quality of health and wellbeing by helping them with their diet, which includes informing them about certain healthy decisions and creating meal plans. They can also help clients to create certain goals and work towards achieving them. By getting a job as a dietary technician, you can earn an average salary of about $45,000 annually.

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Web Designer

Getting a job as a web designer is another high-paying job to consider with an associate degree, as they are responsible for designing aesthetical and functional websites in line with the client’s requirements and specifications. As a web designer, you can work for any design establishment, as a freelancer, or in marketing teams. In order to function properly, you will be required to learn certain programming languages alongside the basic elements of design in order to convert your clients’ thoughts into reality. Working as a web designer gives you the opportunity to earn about $52,000 per year, making it a great career path to consider.

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Paralegal

The role and duties of a paralegal are to help attorneys by organizing and filling out paperwork, drafting documents, and meeting with clients to talk in detail about the case. This is a common career option for individuals who are seeking to gain enough experience with the aim of becoming an attorney. If you are considering a job as a paralegal, you must be ready to engage in lots of paperwork and legal reading. This is also a high-paying job to consider with an associate's degree, as you earn an average of $55,000 per year.

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Social Service Assistant

If you are looking for another high-paying job to consider as an associate degree holder, then you should consider working as a social service assistant. As a social service assistant, you will be required to work with psychologists and social workers to assist others to overcome challenging times by providing guidance and advice to those involved. Just like social workers, they get to work in rehabilitation centers, government agencies, nursing care facilities, and family shelters. Getting a job as a social service assistant may require you to specialize in working with certain types of people, such as those with disabilities, the elderly, and addicts. With this job, you earn an average of $50,000 annually.

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Office Manager

The primary duties of an office manager are to increase the level of productivity of the company, ensure that all other employees are happy, and make sure that everyone gets their work done. To excel as an office manager, it is expected that you have strong communication and organizational skills. With this, you are able to direct the affairs of the office easily and effectively. The average annual income of an office manager is about $54,000.

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Landscape Technician

They can also be referred to as "landscapers," as they are responsible for making outdoor areas aesthetically pleasing to the eye. With their knowledge of exterior and plant decoration, they are able to properly decorate gardens, lawns, and various other outdoor areas. Some of the roles of a landscape technician include trimming bushes, mowing lawns, building fountains, creating pathways, and planting trees and flowers. So, if you are interested in this career path, you get to earn an annual income of about $58,000.

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Web Developer

The main duty of a web developer is to create functional websites. They are responsible for what the website can do for its users. Some of the things you get to work on as a web developer include product tracking, online shopping carts, and email subscription lists. As a web developer, you will be required to make use of certain programming languages like CSS, Java, Python, and HTML. By getting a job as a web developer, you get to earn about $75,000 per annum.

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Conclusion

When you are ready to consider a high-paying career with an associate degree, then there are certain things to keep in mind, as it will help you land that high-paying job, such as leveraging your college career counseling resources, starting networking at an early stage, and choosing a degree that will enable you to earn more money along the line.