Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Detroit

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

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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#32. Dietetic technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100

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)

#31. Preschool teachers, except special education

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $36,350
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,530

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)

#30. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $39,380
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310

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)

#29. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $41,550
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140

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)

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $44,820
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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. Physical therapist assistants

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,150
- #423 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460

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)

#26. Medical equipment repairers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $54,190
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580

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)

#25. Architectural and civil drafters

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $54,290
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980

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)

#24. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,050
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

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)

#23. Occupational therapy assistants

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,160
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650

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)

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#21. Chemical technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,720
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720

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)

#20. Paralegals and legal assistants

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $57,480
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,130

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)

#19. Avionics technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $57,970
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#18. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $58,170
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720

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)

#17. Respiratory therapists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,140
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,100

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)

#16. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,400
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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)

#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,410
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,680

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)

#14. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,810
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770

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)

#13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,840
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 940

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)

#12. Broadcast technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#11. Computer network support specialists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,240
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230

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. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,810
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,410

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)

#9. Dental hygienists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,430
- #413 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,360

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)

#8. Mechanical drafters

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,740
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

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)

#7. Electrical and electronics drafters

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $67,200
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $69,520
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,360

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)

#5. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

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. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,060
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $76,030
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#2. Radiation therapists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $79,670
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#1. Funeral home managers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $88,790
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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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