Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Pittsburgh

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

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

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $35,060
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010

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)

#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090

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)

#32. Dietetic technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $40,160
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $45,070
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

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)

#30. Broadcast technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $45,750
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#29. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $47,140
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

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)

#28. Medical equipment repairers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $52,010
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)

#27. Physical therapist assistants

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- #395 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

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. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $52,460
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#25. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $53,030
- #157 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)

#24. Occupational therapy assistants

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $53,970
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#23. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $54,660
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#22. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $56,290
- #324 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,460

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)

#21. Avionics technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $57,130
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#20. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $57,530
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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. Paralegals and legal assistants

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $58,200
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,750

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)

#18. Mechanical drafters

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $58,440
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

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)

#17. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $59,780
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#16. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,110
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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)

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,160
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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. Chemical technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,540
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810

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)

#13. Respiratory therapists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,560
- #199 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250

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)

#12. Architectural and civil drafters

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $61,820
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

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)

#11. Dental hygienists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- #453 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850

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. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $66,140
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $66,420
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $66,590
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

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)

#7. Electrical and electronics drafters

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $70,670
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#5. Computer network support specialists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $71,360
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420

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)

#4. Radiation therapists

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,140
- #60 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. Nuclear technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,970
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#2. Funeral home managers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $102,340
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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. Air traffic controllers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $111,290
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $127,440
- Employment: 22,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($158,210)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($154,180)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($153,770)

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