Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Little Rock

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

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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#28. Dietetic technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $26,740
- #105 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)

#27. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $30,650
- #379 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#26. Preschool teachers, except special education

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $31,960
- #306 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090

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)

#25. Broadcast technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $40,430
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $41,030
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $41,110
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#22. Paralegals and legal assistants

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $41,500
- #426 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

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)

#21. Chemical technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $41,530
- #250 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#20. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $43,230
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#19. Medical equipment repairers

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $47,670
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#18. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $47,960
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#17. Architectural and civil drafters

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $51,410
- #285 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

#16. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $52,300
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#15. Mechanical drafters

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $52,560
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#14. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $53,840
- #176 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)

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $55,430
- #349 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

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)

#12. Physical therapist assistants

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $55,660
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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)

#11. Computer network support specialists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $56,380
- #354 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

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)

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

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $57,500
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#9. Respiratory therapists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $60,480
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

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)

#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $61,760
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#7. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $63,060
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $65,100
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $66,030
- #285 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

#4. Occupational therapy assistants

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $66,700
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#3. Dental hygienists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $70,400
- #316 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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. Radiation therapists

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $77,960
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#1. Air traffic controllers

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Annual mean salary: $93,450
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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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