Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Ann Arbor

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

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 Ann Arbor, MI using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#25. Dietetic technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#24. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $38,100
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#23. Preschool teachers, except special education

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $40,600
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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)

#22. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#21. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $45,550
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#20. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $47,770
- #246 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#19. Chemical technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#18. Architectural and civil drafters

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- #303 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#17. Paralegals and legal assistants

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $52,200
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#16. Computer network support specialists

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- #350 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#15. Physical therapist assistants

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#14. Occupational therapy assistants

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- #151 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)

#13. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,010
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#12. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,020
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#11. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,500
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600

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)

#10. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,670
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

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)

#9. Medical equipment repairers

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,140
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#8. Respiratory therapists

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,590
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

#7. Mechanical drafters

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $68,680
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#6. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,920
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $71,500
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $72,140
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $79,090
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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

Ann Arbor, MI
- Annual mean salary: $80,070
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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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