Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Blacksburg

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

Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Blacksburg

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

#10. Preschool teachers, except special education

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $29,370
- #413 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#9. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $43,750
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#8. Paralegals and legal assistants

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $44,140
- #358 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#7. Chemical technicians

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $45,350
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#6. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,530
- #302 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#5. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $58,320
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#4. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#3. Physical therapist assistants

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $63,160
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#2. Computer network support specialists

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#1. Dental hygienists

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
- Annual mean salary: $76,250
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

Trending Now