Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Des Moines

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

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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#27. Preschool teachers, except special education

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $29,480
- #408 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,500

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)

#26. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $35,990
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

#25. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $45,740
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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)

#24. Chemical technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $47,670
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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. Broadcast technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $48,410
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#22. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $50,340
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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. Forest and conservation technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $51,480
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $52,900
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#19. Physical therapist assistants

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $54,860
- #320 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#18. Occupational therapy assistants

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $55,530
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#17. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $56,800
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#16. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- #303 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

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)

#15. Paralegals and legal assistants

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $57,590
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190

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. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $58,910
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $59,010
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#12. Respiratory therapists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $59,120
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#11. Electrical and electronics drafters

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $60,820
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $61,470
- #77 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)

#8. Medical equipment repairers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

#7. Computer network support specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $64,120
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#6. Mechanical drafters

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $67,720
- #35 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)

#5. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $67,860
- #122 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)

#4. Nuclear medicine technologists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $75,240
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#3. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $77,010
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $77,060
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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. Dental hygienists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $79,980
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

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)

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