Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Salt Lake City

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

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 Salt Lake City, UT using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#33. Preschool teachers, except special education

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $31,740
- #315 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110

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)

#32. Dietetic technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $32,430
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

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. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $33,490
- #307 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

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)

#30. Forest and conservation technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $39,360
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $43,070
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#28. Broadcast technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $44,910
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#27. Chemical technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $50,150
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#26. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $53,410
- #206 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

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)

#25. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $54,510
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#24. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $55,000
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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. Architectural and civil drafters

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $55,330
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320

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. Paralegals and legal assistants

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $58,030
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,080

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. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $58,850
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#20. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $59,280
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#19. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $61,700
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

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)

#18. Avionics technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $61,960
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#17. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $62,230
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

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)

#16. Mechanical drafters

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $62,310
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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)

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $63,460
- #61 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. Physical therapist assistants

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $63,890
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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. Occupational therapy assistants

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $64,740
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#12. Electrical and electronics drafters

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $64,770
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#11. Respiratory therapists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $69,030
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

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)

#10. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $74,780
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

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)

#9. Medical equipment repairers

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $74,840
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#8. Computer network support specialists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $75,530
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820

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. Dental hygienists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $76,110
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170

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)

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $79,000
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $81,020
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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. Nuclear medicine technologists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $81,390
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#3. Funeral home managers

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $93,150
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#2. Radiation therapists

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $101,480
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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

Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $132,330
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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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