📖

Careers Requiring a Associate's Degree

Careers requiring an associate degree as the typical entry-level credential. Common in healthcare (nursing RN, dental hygiene, radiologic technology), skilled trades, and applied technology fields. Direct-to-workforce pathways with strong employment outcomes.

Repit catalogs 48 occupations at this education level, accounting for approximately 3,478,400 jobs in the U.S. workforce and roughly 332,300 annual openings. Median salaries range up to $144,580 for the highest-paying roles in this tier.
48
Careers
$65,040
Median Salary
332,300
Annual Openings

Air traffic controllers

$144,580 +1.2% growth 2,200 annual openings

Nuclear technicians

$104,240 -7.7% growth 700 annual openings

Radiation therapists

$101,990 +1.9% growth 900 annual openings

Nuclear medicine technologists

$97,020 +3.0% growth 900 annual openings

Dental hygienists

$94,260 +7.0% growth 15,300 annual openings

Diagnostic medical sonographers

$89,340 +13.0% growth 5,800 annual openings

Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

$88,180 +7.1% growth 2,600 annual openings

Respiratory therapists

$80,450 +12.1% growth 8,800 annual openings

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

$79,830 +8.1% growth 900 annual openings

Radiologic technologists and technicians

$77,660 +4.3% growth 12,900 annual openings

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

$77,390 +1.5% growth 5,700 annual openings

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

$77,180 +0.6% growth 8,400 annual openings

Funeral home managers

$76,830 +4.1% growth 2,600 annual openings

Electrical and electronics drafters

$73,720 -5.6% growth 1,700 annual openings

Computer network support specialists

$73,340 +1.8% growth 9,600 annual openings

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

$70,760 +1.1% growth 1,300 annual openings

Legal support workers, all other

$68,760 -1.2% growth 4,700 annual openings

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

$68,730 +0.0% growth 3,200 annual openings

Mechanical drafters

$68,510 -6.5% growth 3,300 annual openings

Occupational therapy assistants

$68,340 +19.2% growth 7,200 annual openings

Health information technologists and medical registrars

$67,310 +14.7% growth 3,200 annual openings

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

$67,260 +3.0% growth 3,800 annual openings

Physical therapist assistants

$65,510 +22.0% growth 19,800 annual openings

Calibration technologists and technicians

$65,040 +4.7% growth 1,400 annual openings

Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

$64,790 +1.7% growth 6,300 annual openings

Architectural and civil drafters

$64,280 +4.1% growth 10,000 annual openings

Civil engineering technologists and technicians

$64,200 +2.1% growth 5,500 annual openings

Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

$64,190 +8.6% growth 1,200 annual openings

Medical equipment repairers

$62,630 +12.9% growth 7,300 annual openings

Drafters, all other

$62,010 -6.9% growth 1,300 annual openings

Paralegals and legal assistants

$61,010 +0.2% growth 39,300 annual openings

Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

$60,130 +3.5% growth 10,600 annual openings

Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

$58,890 +1.2% growth 1,100 annual openings

Hydrologic technicians

$58,570 -2.1% growth 400 annual openings

Chemical technicians

$57,790 +3.7% growth 6,700 annual openings

Embalmers

$56,280 +1.3% growth 600 annual openings

Forest and conservation technicians

$54,310 -3.2% growth 3,900 annual openings

Broadcast technicians

$53,920 -2.8% growth 1,800 annual openings

Desktop publishers

$53,620 -12.4% growth 400 annual openings

Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

$49,800 +3.1% growth 3,200 annual openings

Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

$49,490 +4.0% growth 5,600 annual openings

Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

$49,440 -7.1% growth 9,000 annual openings

Food science technicians

$49,430 +4.8% growth 3,200 annual openings

Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians

$48,390 +1.5% growth 1,300 annual openings

Agricultural technicians

$46,790 +4.3% growth 2,900 annual openings

Veterinary technologists and technicians

$45,980 +9.1% growth 14,300 annual openings

Preschool teachers, except special education

$37,120 +4.1% growth 65,500 annual openings

Dietetic technicians

$37,040 +2.5% growth 4,000 annual openings

Other education levels

🎓 Doctoral Degree 📜 Master's Degree 🎓 Bachelor's Degree 📋 Postsecondary Certificate 📓 Some College, No Degree 🏫 High School Diploma 💼 No Formal Educational Credential