Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Richmond

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

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Richmond

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

#31. Dietetic technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $32,030
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#30. Forest and conservation technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $36,910
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#29. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $39,510
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $43,900
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

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)

#27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $44,320
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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. Broadcast technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $46,600
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#25. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $46,860
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#23 (tie). Paralegals and legal assistants

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030

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 (tie). Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

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)

#22. Chemical technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $52,710
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 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)

#21. Medical equipment repairers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,940
- #89 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)

#20. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $56,840
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#19. Architectural and civil drafters

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $57,030
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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. Mechanical drafters

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $57,320
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#16. Physical therapist assistants

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $58,160
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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)

#15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $59,510
- #107 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)

#14. Electrical and electronics drafters

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $61,110
- #67 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)

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

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. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $64,100
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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)

#11. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $65,240
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#10. Occupational therapy assistants

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $65,490
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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. Respiratory therapists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $65,940
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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. Computer network support specialists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $68,100
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $74,970
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $76,330
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $77,130
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#4. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $77,430
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#3. Dental hygienists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $84,660
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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 technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $94,130
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

Trending Now