Even if it all depends on what you do about it, choosing to pursue your education can lead to higher paid job opportunities. An associate program lasts only two years and offers more affordable tuition fees than a four-year school. Since April 2022, the average annual salary for an individual with an associate degree has been $ 45,989.
Students have a plethora of specialties to choose from when they receive a 2-year degree, from industry-specific roles in health care or IT or a more generalized educational path. Salaries differ between areas of study, type of work, experience, and of course location. A Georgetown University study that looked at job growth and education requirements by 2020 said that 30% of jobs “require at least a college or associate degree.” Students can choose to go directly into the workforce after earning an associate degree, or continue their education to earn a bachelor’s degree.
The unemployment rate for associate graduates is only 2%, according to research from the Education Data Initiative. Having an associate degree under your belt is proven to increase the chances of holding a professional or management position in a number of industries, including education and health, wholesale and retail, and professional and business services.
Stacker has compiled a list of the highest and lowest paid jobs that require a 2-year degree in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA, with data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs will be classified from 2021 to average wages.
#35. Preschool teachers, except special education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 38,020 – # 121 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 4,240
National average annual salary: $ 36,550 – Employment: 370,940 – Metros with highest average salary: – Sacramento – Roseville – Arden-Arcade, CA ($ 49,990) – Ocean City, NJ ($ 49,720) – Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($ 49,560)
#34. Dietetic technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 39,920 – # 20 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 300
National average annual salary: $ 32,920 – Employment: 26,430 – Metros with highest average salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 55,550) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 52,700) – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ( $ 48,370)
#33. Veterinary technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 44,140 – # 26 Highest Paying Among All Metros – Employment: 1,030
National average annual salary: $ 37,860 – Employment: 109,490 – Metros with highest average salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 57,990) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 52,220) – Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ( $ 51,340)
#32. Broadcast technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 45,430 – # 56 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 260
National average annual salary: $ 49,250 – Employment: 25,960 – Metros with highest average salary: – 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)
#31. Forest and conservation technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 46,190 – # 55 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 330
National – Annual Average Salary: $ 42,780 – Employment: 30,150 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($ 68,370) – Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($ 66,570) – Corvallis, OR ($ 62,260)
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#30. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 47,800– # 36 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,460
National Annual Average Salary: $ 44,170 – Employment: 108,470 – Highest Average Meters: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 60,080) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 55,410) – Napa, CA ($ 54,120)
#29. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 49,040 – # 81 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 650
National Annual Average Salary: $ 50,960 – Employment: 31,860 – Highest Average Meters: Kennewick-Richland, WA ($ 79,780) – Huntsville, AL ($ 78,320) – Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($ 76,970)
#28. Chemical technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 49,970– # 152 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,210
National – Annual Salary: $ 53,700 – Employment: 63,490 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – Billings, MT ($ 86,340) – Alaska Non-Metropolitan Region ($ 79,390) – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($ 78,000)
#27. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 52,600 – # 98 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 170
National – Annual Salary: $ 59,000 – Employment: 24,560 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – Southwest Minnesota Netmetropolitan Region ($ 82,420) – Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($ 79,240) – Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($ 73,940)
#26. Desktop publishers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 56,560 – # 10 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 40
National– Annual Salary: $ 50,600– Employment: 7,090– Meters with Highest Average Salary: – 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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#25. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 58,250 – # 37 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 150
National- Annual Salary: $ 62,800– Employment: 13,160– Meters with Highest Average Salary: – Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($ 99,720) – West Texas Non-Metropolitan Area of Texas ($ 99,380) – Midland, TX ($ 98,040)
#24. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 59,220 – # 28 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 110
National – Average Annual Salary: $ 56,570 – Employment: 17,070 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – San Francisco – Oakland – Hayward, CA ($ 82,240) – San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA ($ 81,340) – Los Angeles – Long Beach – Anaheim , CA ($ 74,280)
#23. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 60,760 – # 82 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 550
National average annual salary: $ 60,880 – Employment: 39,880 – Meters with highest average salary: – Baton Rouge, LA ($ 112,580) – North Texas District of Texas Netmetropolitan Region ($ 91,580) – New Orleans Metairie, LA ($ 91,550)
#22. Architectural and civil drafters
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 65,620– # 22 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,370
National Annual Average Salary: $ 59,120 – Employment: 99,180 – Highest Average Metrics: – Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($ 76,060) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 75,700) – Anchorage, AK ($ 75,650)
#21. Medical equipment repairers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 66,740 – # 17 Highest Paying Among All Metros – Employment: 450
National average annual salary: $ 55,090 – Employment: 48,510 – Metros with highest average salary: – Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($ 84,820) – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 84,030) – Reno, NV ($ 83,450)
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#20. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 67,030 – # 44 Highest Paying Among All Metros – Employment: 500
National – Average Annual Salary: $ 56,590 – Employment: 67,270 – Highest Average Meters: – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 92,190) – Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($ 83,250) – Baton Rouge, LA ($ 81,340)
#19. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 67,440– # 35 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 430
National Average Annual Salary: $ 59,920 – Employment: 62,980 – Metros With Highest Average Salary: – Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS ($ 94,360) – Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($ 90,460) – Baton Rouge, LA ($ 86,020)
#18. Paralegals and legal assistants
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 68,790 – # 8 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 2,890
National average annual salary: $ 56,610 – Employment: 332,720 – Meters with highest average salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 90,640) – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($ 76,960) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CA ( $ 75,640)
#17. Electrical and electronics drafters
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 69,220– # 28 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 280
National average annual salary: $ 65,720 – Employment: 23,020 – Metros with highest average salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 98,380) – Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($ 86,920) – New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY -NJ-PA ($ 83,760)
#16. Physical therapist assistants
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 70,410 – # 21 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 850
National average annual salary: $ 59,440 – Employment: 92,740 – Meters with highest average salary: – 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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#15. Mechanical drafters
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 72,510 – # 13 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 370
National – Annual Salary: $ 61,490 – Employment: 51,620 – Meters with Highest Average Salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 104,540) – Corpus Christi, TX ($ 90,720) – New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($ 82,590,540)
#14. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 73,720– # 63 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 2,820
National Annual Pay: $ 68,310 Employment: 115,270 Meters with Highest Average Pay: Northeast Virginia Non-Metropolitan Region ($ 99,890) – Fort Collins, CO ($ 91,980) – Bakersfield, CA ($ 90,780)
#13. Avionics technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 75,610– # 10 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 550
National – Annual Average Salary: $ 69,180 – Employment: 21,390 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA ($ 92,470) – Houston – The Woodlands – Sugar Land, TX ($ 87,670) – California – Lexington Park, MD ($ 83,930)
#12. Computer network support specialists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 75,760 – # 35 Highest Paying Among All Metros – Employment: 1,190
National average annual salary: $ 71,040 – Employment: 184,220 – Meters with highest average salary: – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($ 94,120) – Barnstable Town, MA ($ 93,670) – New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($ 92,190 )
#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 77,560– # 25 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 400
National average annual salary: $ 60,940 – Employment: 55,980 – Metros with highest average salary: – Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($ 99,130) – Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($ 94,400) – Santa Rosa, CA ($ 92,140)
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#10. Occupational therapy assistants
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 77,650– # 3 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 330
National average annual salary: $ 63,420 – Employment: 42,750 – Metros with highest average salary: – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 85,570) – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($ 77,720) – San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($ 77,650 )
#9. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 78,460– # 11 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 250
National average annual salary: $ 70,680 – Employment: 11,900 – Metros with highest average salary: – Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($ 106,970) – Oklahoma City, OK ($ 93,540) – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($ 92,190)
#8. Funeral home managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA– Annual Salary: $ 83,780– # 24 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 50
National – Annual Salary: $ 91,530 – Employment: 10,010 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – 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)
#7. Respiratory therapists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 88,370 – # 15 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,300
National – Annual Salary: $ 65,640 – Employment: 131,890 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA ($ 113,450) – San Francisco – Oakland – Hayward, CA ($ 109,330) – Santa Rosa, CA ($ 690101) )
#6. Radiologic technologists and technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 92,940 – # 12 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,370
National – Average Annual Salary: $ 64,840 – Employment: 206,720 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($ 127,890) – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 118,480) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 118,100)
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#5. Dental hygienists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 102,810 – # 22 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 1,870
National – Annual Average Salary: $ 78,050 – Employment: 194,830 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($ 125,750) – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 122,660) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ( $ 119,320)
#4. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 108,540 – # 5 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 210
National average annual salary: $ 75,960 – Employment: 39,270 – Meters with highest average salary: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 133,590) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 127,930) – Sacramento – Roseville – Ardenen Arcade, CA ( $ 120,550)
#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 109,640 – # 9 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 610
National Annual Average Pay: $ 77,790 – Employment: 73,920 – Highest Average Meters: – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($ 138,110) – Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($ 137,140) – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($ 131,080)
#2. Nuclear medicine technologists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 123,060 – # 5 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 130
National – Annual Salary: $ 82,080 – Employment: 17,510 – Metros with Highest Average Salary: – San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA ($ 149,860) – San Francisco – Oakland – Hayward, CA ($ 148,240) – Sacramento – Roseville – Ardennes Arcade, CA ($ 135,080)
#1. Radiation therapists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA – Annual Salary: $ 131,280 – # 4 Highest Salary Among All Metros – Employment: 130
National average annual salary: $ 94,300 – Employment: 17,390 – Metros with highest average salary: – 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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