Can a Two-Year Degree Land You a High-Paying Job?

Depending on where you live, you may have already heard of the term associate degree. It is an academic program given at the undergraduate level or that stage immediately after secondary school. Associate degrees are commonly offered in the United States and Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Australia. If you are from the United Kingdom, you will know they have something similar, called foundation degrees.

Associate degrees are also known as two-year degrees since you can finish one in about two years. To get your associate degree, you will need to complete 60 units from the chosen major’s core courses. The purpose of associate degrees is to provide students basic technical and academic knowledge and skills and abilities that may be used across different roles or occupations.

In the United States, students can apply for associate degree programs at community colleges, junior and technical colleges, affiliated colleges of universities, and university institutes themselves. Some associate degrees are related to the following courses:

• Information Technology
• Health/Medical
• Business
• Communication
• Education
• Engineering
• Applied Sciences
• Culinary Arts
• Other Technical Courses

Based on the degrees mentioned above, we can glean the four types of associate degrees:

• Associate of Arts or AA
• Associate of Science or AS
• Associate of Applied Arts or AAA
• Associate of Applied Science or AAS

Fundamentally, the “applied” courses focus on preparing students for a particular career that centers on practical vocational skills. Hence, if you want to apply for 2 year degree jobs straight after completing an associate degree program, you will be better off choosing one of the applied courses. Alternatively, if you want to complete a bachelor’s degree, either the AA or AS will do since either will prepare you for a higher level of academic study.

An associate degree is typically the preliminary step in preparation for a bachelor’s degree. However, some students consider it a qualification on its own, allowing them to enjoy better-paying jobs than what they will usually qualify for with secondary-level education. That is why there are 2 year degree jobs that pay well and are a good fit for those who completed associate degrees.

High-Growth Sectors for Associates Degrees 

Of the courses mentioned earlier, two career areas have shown exponential growth in the past years. That means you will be able to find many excellent opportunities for 2 year degree jobs in those fields. These are the health/medical field and information technology.

The health/medical field is probably one of the fastest-growing industries in today’s job market. And if you have an associate degree, your chances of landing the highest paying jobs with a 2 year degree is high, even if it is a cutthroat industry.

You may think that a healthcare career requires an advanced degree like a bachelor’s or master’s, but such is not the case. The truth is most of the top health/medical fields have high-paying job opportunities exclusively for those with associate degrees obtained from a health sciences or community college. Here are a few courses you can complete in two years under the health/medical field:

• Registered Nurse
• Medical or Nursing Assistants
• Dental Hygienist
• Medical Sonographer
• Home Health Aides
• Radiologic and MRI Technologist
• Personal Care Aides
• Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Another field with plenty of opportunities for two year degree jobs is information technology. You cannot deny how much technology has grown over the past few years, and today, more and more people have become overly dependent on it. It is incredible how the job market has a mounting need for individuals who have received good software and technology training. At least two high-growth jobs in the information technology sector that require a minimum associate degree are:

• Web Developer
• Computer Network Specialist

Later in the article, you will see how much some of the jobs mentioned in this section can pay you should you decide to embark on a career in any of the mentioned fields.

Differences between a Two-Year Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree 

Bachelor’s and associate degrees are considered undergraduate degrees, which means students who complete their secondary education can enroll in either instantaneously. However, there is a wealth of difference between the two, and knowing these can help you decide which one to opt for.

1. Time – As mentioned earlier, you can complete an associate degree in two years, tops, which is equivalent to 60 credit hours. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours, which is equal to four years (or more). Of course, either one can go beyond the usual years, especially if you choose to study part-time. Still, you will have the option to learn at an accelerated pace, which will allow you to complete the degree faster. Should you decide to continue and complete a bachelor’s degree, some of your units may be credited, thereby shortening the time you need to complete the latter.
2. Cost – An associate degree’s tuition fees are considerably lower. Moreover, since it takes less time to complete it, you can be sure that the overall cost of education is less than what you will typically pay for four years of a bachelor’s degree. In most cases, you can expect the prices to be two to three times lower. Even incidentals like board and lodging are significantly lower.
3. Entry Requirements – The associate degree’s admission requirements are less competitive than those for a bachelor’s degree. Schools offering associate degree programs typically have varying minimum course requirements, but the bottom line is, the requirements generally are more comfortable to meet. Also, the admissions deadline for a two-year degree is usually later than it is compared to a four-year degree.

Considering the three points above, it is clear that an associate degree is hands down the best choice for those who want to benefit from good education minus the need to spend more. Still, if you think you are way past the age of schooling, you can click here to see how you can fast-track your way to obtaining an associate degree.

Career Possibilities with an Associate Degree

Now we get to the meat of this article. We mentioned previously that applied associate degrees could prepare you for two year degree jobs. Please note that career possibilities will depend on the type of associate degree you opted for, as well as the subject you majored in. Be that as it may, you will be excited to know that there are plenty of high-paying jobs you can apply for after completing an associate degree program.

If you do a quick online search for the highest paying jobs with a 2 year degree, you will see these careers included in the list, and also, for the sake of comparison, we are including the projected salary for each one:

• Air Traffic Controller – $82,713
• Biomedical Technician – $48,792
• CAD Technician – $40,095
• Cardiac Catheterization Technician – $62,201
• Chef – $41,538
• Civil Engineering Technician – $51,398
• Computer Forensics Specialist – $70,035
• Dental Hygienist – $54,243
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer – $52,567
• Fashion Buyer – $67,407
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist – $63,305
• Occupational Health and Safety Technician – $53,722
• Radiation Therapist – $69,081
• Registered Nurse – $62,531
• Web Designer – $48,990

So, you see, some of these best jobs with 2 year degree pay well. While having a bachelor’s degree is more likely to open more lucrative professional paths, an associate or two-year degree can land you a rewarding career, too. The best part is you do not need to spend a lot of money on tuition and miscellaneous fees when you opt for an associate degree instead of a bachelor’s degree.

Why Get an Associate Degree? 

There are plenty of good reasons why you will do well to choose an associate degree. For one thing, it lays a good foundation for students who may want to pursue further studies via a bachelor’s degree. Some who have recently graduated from high school but cannot afford a four-year course right away apply for an associate degree first. Then, once they have saved enough, they transfer their units so these, in turn, can be credited to their bachelor’s degree course.

For another, an associate degree is the best option for someone like you who may want to look for 2 year degree jobs immediately after graduation. An associate degree will allow you to finish your chosen course faster and more cost-effectively.

What is more, you can quickly get back what you spent on your education since you can get started working straight away. And as discussed in one of the sections in this article, two year degree jobs usually pay well.

So, to answer the question, “Can a two-year degree land you a high-paying job?” The simple answer is yes. It does not matter which subject or course you major in, most jobs for associate degree holders pay well. All that is possible without having to spend more than two years in school and spending copious amounts of money on tuition and miscellaneous fees. By opting for an associate degree, you can easily secure a bright future not only for yourself but also for your family.