Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Boston

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July 15, 2022
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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Boston

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 Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

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#35. Dietetic technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $35,930
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

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)
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CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $43,160
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,630

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)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $44,320
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,510

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)
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $51,700
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

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)
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photodiem // Shutterstock

#31. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $52,250
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

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)

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#30. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $55,300
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#29. Chemical technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $56,990
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

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)
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Lighthunter // Shutterstock

#28. Medical equipment repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $59,510
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

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)
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#27. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $60,030
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

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)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#26. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $61,160
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

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)

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#25. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $62,740
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)
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#24. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $65,080
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,910

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)
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#23. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,590

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)
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GOLFX // Shutterstock

#22. Desktop publishers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $66,400
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)
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Queryzo // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Forest and conservation technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $66,570
- #2 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)

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#20. Occupational therapy assistants

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

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)
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Gearstd // Shutterstock

#19. Mechanical drafters

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

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)
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $67,130
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#17. Broadcast technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $67,660
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

#16. Architectural and civil drafters

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $67,810
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,840

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)

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#15. Physical therapist assistants

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $68,660
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,390

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)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#14. Paralegals and legal assistants

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $69,090
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,760

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)
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Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

#13. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,940
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#12. Funeral home managers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)
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#11. Electrical and electronics drafters

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,320
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

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)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $80,450
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,030

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)
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#9. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $80,460
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870

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)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#8. Respiratory therapists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $81,020
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,530

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)
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#7. Dental hygienists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $87,680
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,980

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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#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $87,860
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170

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)

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#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,670
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#4. Computer network support specialists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $91,210
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,050

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)
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $93,280
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,480

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)
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#2. Radiation therapists

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $100,410
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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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Burben // Shutterstock

#1. Air traffic controllers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $150,740
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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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