Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Lancaster

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

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

#19. Dietetic technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $27,170
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#18. Preschool teachers, except special education

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $30,330
- #387 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#17. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $36,170
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#16. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $43,390
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 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)

#15. Chemical technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $45,800
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

#14. Paralegals and legal assistants

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)

#13. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $51,730
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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. Medical equipment repairers

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#11. Physical therapist assistants

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $52,510
- #392 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#10. Architectural and civil drafters

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $53,770
- #235 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)

#9. Occupational therapy assistants

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $56,930
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $57,680
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#7. Mechanical drafters

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $58,050
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $58,920
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#5. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $61,920
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#4. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $65,150
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

#3. Dental hygienists

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $67,670
- #386 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

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. Computer network support specialists

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $67,730
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

#1. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Lancaster, PA
- Annual mean salary: $70,120
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

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