Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Columbus

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

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Columbus

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

#31. Preschool teachers, except special education

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,340
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,170

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. Dietetic technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $35,660
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#29. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $36,760
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100

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)

#28. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $40,470
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $42,440
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

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)

#26. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $43,660
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#25. Broadcast technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $48,620
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#24. Chemical technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $53,760
- #85 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)

#23. Paralegals and legal assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $54,100
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,890

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. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $55,080
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#21. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $58,450
- #265 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,430

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)

#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $58,690
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

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)

#19. Architectural and civil drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $60,410
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

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. Medical equipment repairers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $61,170
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#17. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $61,440
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

#16. Respiratory therapists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $61,950
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980

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)

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#14. Avionics technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $63,430
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#13. Physical therapist assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

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)

#12. Mechanical drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $64,030
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#11. Electrical and electronics drafters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $64,460
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#10. Occupational therapy assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $64,920
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

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)

#9. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $65,930
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

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

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $66,590
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

#7. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $67,280
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $70,250
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

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. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $71,030
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#4. Dental hygienists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $71,800
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540

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)

#3. Computer network support specialists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,000

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $75,110
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $88,540
- #36 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)

Trending Now