Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Los Angeles

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

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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#37. Preschool teachers, except special education

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $41,650
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,260

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)

#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,180
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,990

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)

#35. Dietetic technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,340
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310

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)

#34. Broadcast technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $45,390
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,090

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)

#33. Forest and conservation technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $46,490
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600

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. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $47,330
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)

#31. Chemical technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $49,060
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,570

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)

#30. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $49,470
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,990

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)

#29. Desktop publishers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $51,660
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $52,600
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850

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)

#27. Embalmers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $55,560
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,220
- Employment: 3,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($86,140)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($72,090)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,000)

#26. Architectural and civil drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $64,370
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,850

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)

#25. Mechanical drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $65,110
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370

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)

#24. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $66,060
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#23. Electrical and electronics drafters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $67,940
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020

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)

#22. Medical equipment repairers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $68,760
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,420

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)

#21. Paralegals and legal assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,810

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. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,540
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

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)

#19. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,020
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,700

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)

#18. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,190
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,860

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)

#17. Computer network support specialists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $71,350
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,440

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)

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

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $71,400
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

#15. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,860
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,420

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)

#14. Occupational therapy assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $73,440
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#13. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,280
- #3 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)

#12. Physical therapist assistants

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $75,120
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,190

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)

#11. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $76,630
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720

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)

#10. Avionics technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $77,690
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

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)

#9. Funeral home managers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,880
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#8. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $84,870
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570

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)

#7. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $85,070
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,590

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)

#6. Respiratory therapists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,020

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)

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $101,830
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,910

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)

#4. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,620
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910

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)

#3. Dental hygienists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $104,840
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,150

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)

#2. Nuclear medicine technologists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,560
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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)

#1. Radiation therapists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $131,960
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

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