Value of a 2 year degree

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I must admit I don't know too much about universities or colleges at the degree level. Could someone please fill me in on what a technical degree is and how a non-technical degree differs. Maybe some examples. Thanks.

These days, in the era of online applications and automated response systems, a degree is just something on the checklist. Unless it's a specific field like engineering, it isn't worth much. Employers want someone who is dependable and diligent, and it's hard to tell that over the Internet reading a resume.

Highest Paying 2-Year Degree Jobs in the US

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 4-year degree, but don’t discount the 2-year degree. Many high-paying careers offer a good living after putting in just two years of school at a technical or community college.

Medical Careers

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 2-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 2-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.

Computers and Technology

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 2-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 their own their own firm.

Construction and Engineering

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.

And the Rest

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 2-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 2-year degree could get you where you want to go offering excellent medical, engineering, computer and graphic design salaries.