Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Buffalo

Written by:
July 15, 2022
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Buffalo

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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#28. Dietetic technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $37,990
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#27. Preschool teachers, except special education

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $39,820
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,120

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

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $40,060
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $43,990
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $47,560
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#23. Occupational therapy assistants

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $48,850
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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. Physical therapist assistants

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $49,090
- #431 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#21. Paralegals and legal assistants

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $50,860
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

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. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $52,670
- #310 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#19. Architectural and civil drafters

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $53,590
- #239 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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. Chemical technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $54,410
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#17. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $55,370
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#16. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $55,490
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#15. Medical equipment repairers

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $56,430
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#14. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $56,680
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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 electronics drafters

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $59,100
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#12. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $60,200
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#11. Dental hygienists

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $63,340
- #451 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820

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)

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $64,590
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910

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)

#9. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $64,790
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $65,500
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#7. Mechanical drafters

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $66,080
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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. Computer network support specialists

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

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)

#5. Respiratory therapists

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $70,040
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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)

#4. Broadcast technicians

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $70,990
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $75,260
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)

#2. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $75,330
- #62 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)

#1. Nuclear medicine technologists

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
- Annual mean salary: $84,090
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

Trending Now