Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Seattle

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

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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

#32. Preschool teachers, except special education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $38,420
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,510

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)

#31. Forest and conservation technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $46,200
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#30. Dietetic technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $48,370
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#29. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $49,920
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,590

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $50,390
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600

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. Chemical technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $56,980
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $60,210
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#25. Medical equipment repairers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

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. Physical therapist assistants

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $62,050
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

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)

#23. Broadcast technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

#22. Architectural and civil drafters

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $66,100
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300

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)

#21. Occupational therapy assistants

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $66,660
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

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)

#20. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $69,370
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#19. Mechanical drafters

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $70,060
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

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)

#18. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $73,080
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#17. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,080
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#16. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,410
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

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)

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,410
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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. Paralegals and legal assistants

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,960
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,560

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)

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,080
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#12. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

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. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,640
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

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)

#10. Electrical and electronics drafters

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $81,360
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,110
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,590

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)

#8. Respiratory therapists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,390
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030

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)

#7. Computer network support specialists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,120
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350

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)

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $102,670
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

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)

#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $105,040
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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)

#4. Nuclear medicine technologists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,670
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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. Dental hygienists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $111,600
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,260

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $114,870
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $144,470
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

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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