Six Top Jobs That You Can Get With An Associate Degree (2024)

Having a four-year degree can only a lot of doors for you in a job hunt, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a rewarding and in-demand career with a two-year degree. There are many fields where having anassociate degreeis all you need to get started as a professional. If you’re looking for career opportunities that your associate can unlock, take a look at some of these top professions.

Paralegal

Want to get involved in the legal system? You don’t need to go to law school to make a difference! Paralegals play a vital role in legal matters. Paralegals help attorneys by interviewing clients and witnesses, performing critical research, and preparing legal documents. A two-year degree in Rio Salado’sParalegal Studies programcan get you started on this rewarding career path.

On average there are around38,000 openings projected per year for paralegals and legal assistants. The median annual wage for paralegals is around $60,970. Paralegals are an evergreen profession: so long as there are lawyers, there will be paralegals around to help them carry out the task of upholding the law.

Law Enforcement

Another profession that remains perennial is the field oflaw enforcement. There is a steady demand for police officers across the country; BLS reports a projected 3% increase in job opportunitiesfor police officers between now and 2031. While the salary for police officers isn’t necessarily high, they do offer significant health and retirement benefits.

Rio Salado College offers anAdministration of Justice degree program that provides students with a grounding in criminal justice, law enforcement training, public safety, and forensics science. Rio Salado also offers certificate programs for corrections and detention, homeland security, firearms, victimology, and juvenile corrections. A degree isn’t necessary to work in law enforcement but having one can make you eligible for higher-paying positions and opportunities.

Computer Programmer

A solid grounding in computer science and coding can open doors for you on the job market. With automation on the rise, there’s lots of opportunities for people who are interested in learning about how to do prompt engineering and work with LLMs. The demand for computer programmers with specific skill sets is strong, and computer programmers with knowledge of A.I. and LLMS will have an advantage over their more generalized peers.

Interested in getting into computer science? Rio Salado College offers adegree program in Computer Science. Learn about programming languages, computing environments, algorithmic principles, software systems, and computer science theory while building up a professional skill set that could make you career-ready by graduation.

Nursing

Nursing jobs are highly in demand. The BLS projects a6% increase in job opportunities for nursesover the next decade. Themedian annual wage for nurses is $86,070. Eight of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges offer Nursing programs. While Rio Salado College doesn't offer theMaricopa Nursing program, we do offerNursing Prerequisites. Completing these courses (written and taught by masters-and-doctoral-level healthcare professionals) will prepare you for completing a nursing program elsewhere. You can also get started in the healthcare profession with an associate degree from Rio!

Dietary Technician

Another healthcare-related field with growing job opportunities is in nutrition. Dietary technicians (also known as dietary aides) are highly sought-after, with a 7% projected increase in job opportunities over the rest of the decade. Dietary aides work alongside dieticians to help come up with meal plans, set goals with clients, and provide education and resources to the community about making healthy choices. Rio Salado College offers aNutrition and Dietetics degree program that can give you enough grounding in this growing field to help you take the next step forward toward a fulfilling career.

Dental Hygienists

If you’re looking for an in-demand job that pays well that you can get your foot in the door with a two-year degree, becoming adental hygienist may be right up your alley. Dental hygienists can be found at dentist offices, hospitals, and even nursing homes. Hygienists work to help improve the oral health of their community by performing cleanings, applying fluorides and sealants, and taking dental X-rays. Dental hygienists often do community outreach work, sharing best practices on how to keep mouths healthy and clean.

The Bureau of Labor Statisticsestimates that the field will grow 9% by 2031, meaning that there are many open positions out there that need to be filled. Interested in learning more? Rio Salado College has adental clinicanddental hygiene programthat can get you on the road to professional wellness.

Article by Austin Brietta

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Six Top Jobs That You Can Get With An Associate Degree (2024)

FAQs

What 4 year degree makes 6 figures? ›

Engineering, Math, Computer, and IT combined offer 12 jobs paying over $100,000. Art, Sales, and Transportation each offer one six-figure job.

What is the most common associates degree? ›

The two most common types of associate degrees that students get are associate of arts (AA) and associate of science (AS). Students who pursue an AS degree tend to focus on science and math-related careers.

What is a 2 year degree called? ›

An associate degree is a two-year degree typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and career colleges. However, some four-year universities offer them as well. Examples of some associate degrees include Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

What is a 7 figure salary? ›

A seven-figure job refers to the number of digits listed in your salary. This includes people who earn anywhere from $1 million to just under $10 million per year. Many people may consider this salary range to be well above average.

Is 6 figures 100k a year? ›

The term “six figures” refers to any annual six-digit salary that falls within the $100,000 to $999,999 range. Securing a post-graduate degree or attaining a highly in-demand position can help you earn six figures over time.

Is an associates degree enough for a job? ›

After Earning Your Degree

It's important to show your learned skills, like teamwork, creativity and written and verbal skills. Depending on your field, an associate degree may help you meet the minimum requirement for many jobs, but actually landing a job takes more than that.

Is an associates degree worth it anymore? ›

If you're deciding between no higher education degree at all and an associate degree, the answer is, quite simply, “Yes; getting an associate degree is worth it!” If you are hoping to break into a professional field and want to raise your job prospects, getting an associate degree is going to serve you much better than ...

Can you make a living off an associate's degree? ›

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, associate degree holders can earn an average of $963 per week , or $50,076 per year.

Does having an associate degree increase your salary? ›

California community college graduates with associate's degrees bring in $352,011 over their work life than if they had a high school diploma. Source: AIR and Nexus Research. Nationwide, the median additional lifetime earnings are $259,000, the report said.

Can you be successful with an associate's degree? ›

There are many fields where an associate degree is worthwhile. The best choices are those where the Associate of Science degree is the terminal degree in the field. Physical Therapist Assistant and Registered Nurse degrees are good examples of this.

What salary is well into six figures? ›

A six-figure salary is anywhere from $100,000 to $999,999. It's called a “six-figure salary” because every number in this range has six digits. You might be thinking, 'That's a huge range. ' And you're right!

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