Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Sacramento

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

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 Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#32. Broadcast technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,700
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#31. Dietetic technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $44,750
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#30. Forest and conservation technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $44,960
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#29. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $45,140
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

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)

#28. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $48,240
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#27. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $49,490
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

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. Preschool teachers, except special education

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $49,990
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,560

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)

#25. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $50,480
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

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)

#24. Chemical technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $51,640
- #122 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)

#23. Desktop publishers

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $61,830
- #7 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)

#22. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $63,410
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#21. Paralegals and legal assistants

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $63,460
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,230

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. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $64,040
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#19. Architectural and civil drafters

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $64,360
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870

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)

#18. Avionics technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $64,380
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#17. Medical equipment repairers

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $65,910
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

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

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $66,500
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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. Electrical and electronics drafters

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $68,710
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#14. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,160
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#13. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,290
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

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)

#12. Mechanical drafters

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,530
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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)

#11. Computer network support specialists

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $71,750
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

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)

#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $71,950
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#9. Physical therapist assistants

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,380
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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)

#8. Occupational therapy assistants

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $76,750
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#7. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,090
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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)

#6. Respiratory therapists

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $100,290
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180

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. Dental hygienists

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $106,980
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,930

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)

#4. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $107,450
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150

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)

#3. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $120,550
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $125,830
- #4 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)

#1. Nuclear medicine technologists

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
- Annual mean salary: $135,080
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

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