Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Houston

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

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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#36. Dietetic technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $31,620
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#35. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- #295 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,180

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)

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $37,240
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,270

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. Forest and conservation technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,820
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,310
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

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)

#31. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,320
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#30. Broadcast technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,830
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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. Embalmers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $46,220
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,220
- Employment: 3,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($86,140)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($72,090)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,000)

#28. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,020
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

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)

#27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $53,760
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760

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)

#26. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $56,860
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

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)

#25. Medical equipment repairers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,580
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860

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)

#24. Paralegals and legal assistants

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $59,980
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,150

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)

#23. Architectural and civil drafters

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $60,680
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,180

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)

#22. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $60,830
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,320

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. Electrical and electronics drafters

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,830
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

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)

#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,700
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,190

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)

#19. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,600
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

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

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $67,690
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#17. Respiratory therapists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $67,870
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,950

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)

#16. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $68,130
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420

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. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,160
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310

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. Physical therapist assistants

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $70,310
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580

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)

#13. Funeral home managers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $70,340
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#12. Mechanical drafters

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

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. Occupational therapy assistants

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $71,220
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880

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)

#10. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $71,460
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,830

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)

#9. Computer network support specialists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $73,470
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,530

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)

#8. Chemical technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $73,630
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,200

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)

#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $74,190
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570

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)

#6. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $78,020
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,680
- Employment: 11,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,970)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($93,540)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($92,190)

#5. Dental hygienists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $78,030
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,340

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. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,090
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)

#3. Avionics technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $87,670
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#2. Radiation therapists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $89,460
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $105,220
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)

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