Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Charlotte

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

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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#34. Dietetic technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $28,290
- #97 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)

#33. Preschool teachers, except special education

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $30,450
- #378 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,920

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)

#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $37,390
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020

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)

#31. Forest and conservation technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $40,210
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#30. Electrical and electronics drafters

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $41,900
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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)

#29. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $42,240
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

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. Broadcast technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- #42 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)

#27. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- #68 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)

#26. Chemical technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,530
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

#25. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,980
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#24. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $51,330
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#23. Paralegals and legal assistants

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,150
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,520

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)

#22. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,270
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

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)

#21. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,500
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#20. Medical equipment repairers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,360
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

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)

#19. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,980
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#18. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,240
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,740

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)

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

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

#14. Architectural and civil drafters

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

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)

#13. Mechanical drafters

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,780
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

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)

#12. Respiratory therapists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $62,050
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080

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 electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $62,070
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#10. Physical therapist assistants

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $62,450
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#9. Occupational therapy assistants

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $68,870
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#8. Nuclear medicine technologists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $73,110
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $74,680
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $76,760
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

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. Dental hygienists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $78,350
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780

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)

#4. Radiation therapists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $78,950
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#3. Computer network support specialists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $85,930
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160

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)

#2. Funeral home managers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $95,100
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#1. Nuclear technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $102,270
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,810
- Employment: 6,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($106,790)
--- Monroe, MI ($105,220)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($102,270)

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