Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Phoenix

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

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 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#37. Dietetic technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $32,990
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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)

#36. Preschool teachers, except special education

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $33,100
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,640

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)

#35. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350

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)

#34. Desktop publishers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $41,430
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,600
- Employment: 7,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,880)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($68,860)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($66,400)

#33. Forest and conservation technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $43,800
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,780
- Employment: 30,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($68,370)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($66,570)
--- Corvallis, OR ($62,260)

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $44,490
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,670

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)

#31. Broadcast technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $51,030
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#30. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $51,320
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#29. Physical therapist assistants

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $51,430
- #410 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,730

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)

#28. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $52,480
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,790
- Employment: 13,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($95,360)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($82,470)
--- Trenton, NJ ($80,110)

#27. Medical equipment repairers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $52,910
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

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)

#26. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $55,120
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)

#25. Chemical technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $55,880
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#24. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $56,140
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#23. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $57,210
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#22. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $57,220
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

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)

#21. Paralegals and legal assistants

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $58,140
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,140

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)

#20. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,680
- Employment: 11,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,970)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($93,540)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($92,190)

#19. Occupational therapy assistants

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $59,570
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160

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)

#18. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $59,970
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

#17. Funeral home managers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#16. Architectural and civil drafters

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910

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)

#15. Avionics technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $63,960
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- Employment: 21,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,470)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($87,670)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($83,930)

#14. Computer network support specialists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $64,230
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,300

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)

#13. Respiratory therapists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $65,820
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,490

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)

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,230

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)

#11. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $67,700
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,800
- Employment: 13,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($99,720)
--- West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area ($99,380)
--- Midland, TX ($98,040)

#10. Mechanical drafters

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $68,110
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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)

#9. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $68,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,830

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)

#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $68,820
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600

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)

#7. Electrical and electronics drafters

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $71,780
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900

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)

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $82,300
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

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)

#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $83,430
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#4. Dental hygienists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $84,540
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,370

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)

#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $87,520
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420

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)

#2. Radiation therapists

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $93,500
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#1. Air traffic controllers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Annual mean salary: $137,480
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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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