By Jessica Bosari
We all know that most high-paying jobs are impossible to get without a college degree. Most of us assume those jobs only come when you have a four-year degree, but don't discount the two-year degree. Many high-paying careers offer a good living after putting in just two years of school at a technical or community college.
Interested in a career in medicine but don't want to go to school for 8 years or rack up $150,000 in debt? Registered Nurses typically have two-year degrees but can earn an average salary of $55,000. Physical Therapy Assistants can earn $46,000 annually and Radiologic and X-ray technicians earn on average $52,000. Not bad, considering a two-year degree costs less than $9,000 on average.
Another perk, according the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, expected job growth for nurses is 22 percent, job growth is expected at a healthy 17 percent for Radiologic and X-ray Technicians, and job growth in the physical therapy industry is expect to reach 30 percent between 2008 and 2018.
Interested in working in a dentist's office? A dental hygienist with a 2-year degree can earn $57,000 a year — more with certifications and licenses. Now you know why a teeth cleaning is so expensive.
Maybe you're into computers and technology. Well, computer support specialists can make between $46,000 and $60,000 a year, depending on their specialization. Enjoy designing websites? A Web designer with a two-year degree can make an average of $47,000 annually. A graphic designer can make between $40,000 and $50,000 a year or more if they own their own firm.
If you enjoy building things, such as homes or infrastructure, you have options as well. Engineering technicians can make between $41,000 and $52,000 a year, depending on the engineering area. Environmental engineering technicians make the least, while aerospace engineering technicians make the most. But it's still a good wage for an Associate's degree. If you are looking for a gig in green technology, solar panel consultants and installers can make over $50,000 a year. Electrical technicians can make well over $40,000 as well.
There are other careers as well. Paralegals, police detectives, and hospitality workers all earn on average more than $40,000 a year. And not to be outdone, a Funeral Director can bring home over $52,000 a year.
It is important to mention that with many of these careers, additional certifications or licenses are required (nurses, x-ray technicians, dental hygienists all require a certification or license), but your two-year degree should prepare you to take these exams. In some careers, such as electrical technicians and funeral directors, an apprenticeship can be at least partially substituted for a 2-year degree.
So if you are searching for a career, don't automatically exclude a career that doesn't require a Bachelor's degree. A two-year degree could get you where you want to go offering excellent medical, engineering, computer and graphic design salaries.
