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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
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#38. Dietetic technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $28,720
- #91 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)
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#37. Preschool teachers, except special education
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $31,270
- #343 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,250
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)
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#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $38,050
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,020
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)
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#35. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $40,650
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
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)
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#34. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $44,040
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850
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)
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#33. Forest and conservation technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $45,000
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
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#32. Desktop publishers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $47,210
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,600
- Employment: 7,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,880)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($68,860)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($66,400)
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#31. Chemical technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $47,330
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
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)
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#30. Embalmers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $47,690
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
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#29. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $50,960
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
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)
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#28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $52,120
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
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#27. Avionics technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
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)
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#26. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $54,220
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
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#25. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
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)
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#24. Medical equipment repairers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $55,760
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
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)
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#23. Architectural and civil drafters
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $56,570
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,660
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)
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#22. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $56,930
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
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#21. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $57,510
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
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)
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#20. Broadcast technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $57,830
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)
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#19. Paralegals and legal assistants
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,190
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)
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#18. Electrical and electronics drafters
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
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#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $60,540
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,520
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)
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#16. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $60,890
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
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#15. Respiratory therapists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $61,470
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,550
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)
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#14. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $62,170
- #218 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
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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26 / 38
#13. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $65,480
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
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#12. Physical therapist assistants
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $67,220
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690
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)
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#11. Occupational therapy assistants
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $67,370
- #48 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)
29 / 38
#10. Computer network support specialists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $68,090
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,500
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)
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#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $69,820
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,650
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)
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#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $71,710
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
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)
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#7. Mechanical drafters
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $73,230
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
33 / 38
#6. Dental hygienists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $73,360
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,160
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)
34 / 38
#5. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $74,160
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
35 / 38
#4. Nuclear medicine technologists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $76,950
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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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#3. Funeral home managers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $80,740
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
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#2. Radiation therapists
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $80,850
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
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#1. Air traffic controllers
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Annual mean salary: $129,830
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)
