Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Birmingham

Written by:
July 15, 2022
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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Birmingham

Although it all depends on what you make of it, choosing to further your education may lead to higher paying job opportunities. An associate's degree takes just two years and offers more affordable tuition rates than a four-year school. As of April 2022, the average yearly salary for an individual with an associate's degree comes out to $45,989.

Students have a plethora of specialties to choose from when obtaining a 2-year degree, from industry-specific roles in health care or IT or a more generalized education path. Salaries differ between areas of study, job type, experience, and, of course, location. A Georgetown University study that looked at job growth and education requirements through 2020 stated that 30% of job openings required "at least some college or an associate's degree." Students can choose to head right into the workforce after earning an associate's, or continue their education toward earning a bachelor's degree.

The unemployment rate for associate's degree holders is only 2%, according to research from the Education Data Initiative. Having an associate's degree under your belt is proven to increase one's chance of holding a professional or management position in any number of industries, among them education and health, wholesale retail and trade, and professional and business services.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying jobs that require a 2-year degree in Birmingham-Hoover, AL using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#31. Preschool teachers, except special education

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $23,460
- #504 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,550
- Employment: 370,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

#30. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $29,680
- #400 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,860
- Employment: 109,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)

#29. Dietetic technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $33,500
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,920
- Employment: 26,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,700)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,370)

#28. Broadcast technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $38,470
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,250
- Employment: 25,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,430)
--- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY ($70,990)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,950)

#27. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $41,040
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,170
- Employment: 108,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,410)
--- Napa, CA ($54,120)

#26. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $47,220
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,570
- Employment: 17,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($81,340)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($74,280)

#25. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $49,710
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,940
- Employment: 55,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($99,130)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($94,400)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,140)

#24. Electrical and electronics drafters

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,720
- Employment: 23,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,380)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($86,920)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($83,760)

#23. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,050
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,590
- Employment: 67,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,190)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($83,250)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($81,340)

#22. Chemical technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,540
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,700
- Employment: 63,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($86,340)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($79,390)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($78,000)

#21. Mechanical drafters

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,860
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,490
- Employment: 51,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,540)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($90,720)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($82,590)

#20. Medical equipment repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,540
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,090
- Employment: 48,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($84,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,030)
--- Reno, NV ($83,450)

#19. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,600
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,000
- Employment: 24,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area ($82,420)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($79,240)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($73,940)

#18. Dental hygienists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,810
- #496 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,050
- Employment: 194,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)

#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,340
- #405 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,840
- Employment: 206,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($127,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($118,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,100)

#16. Respiratory therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,110
- #342 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,640
- Employment: 131,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,330)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($101,690)

#15. Paralegals and legal assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,130
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,610
- Employment: 332,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($76,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,640)

#14. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,230
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,880
- Employment: 39,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($112,580)
--- North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area ($91,580)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($91,550)

#13. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $60,570
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 62,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS ($94,360)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($90,460)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($86,020)

#12. Architectural and civil drafters

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,110
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,120
- Employment: 99,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($76,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,700)
--- Anchorage, AK ($75,650)

#11. Physical therapist assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,790
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,440
- Employment: 92,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($76,390)

#10. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,940
- #326 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,790
- Employment: 73,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($137,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,080)

#9. Occupational therapy assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $65,520
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,420
- Employment: 42,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,570)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,720)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($77,650)

#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $66,330
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,960
- Employment: 39,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,930)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($120,550)

#7. Nuclear medicine technologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $67,310
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,080
- Employment: 17,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($149,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($148,240)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($135,080)

#6. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $76,180
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,310
- Employment: 115,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area ($99,890)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($91,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($90,780)

#5. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,960
- Employment: 31,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($79,780)
--- Huntsville, AL ($78,320)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($76,970)

#4. Radiation therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $77,480
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,300
- Employment: 17,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($169,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($159,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($131,960)

#3. Computer network support specialists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $82,250
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,040
- Employment: 184,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,120)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($93,670)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,190)

#2. Funeral home managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $94,310
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,530
- Employment: 10,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,760)
--- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ ($115,400)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,820)

#1. Air traffic controllers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $96,580
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $127,440
- Employment: 22,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($158,210)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($154,180)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($153,770)

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