Highest-Paying Associate’s Degree Jobs: 2025 Wages and Growth
- BLS lists 44 detailed occupations where the typical entry credential is “associate's degree.” 39 of them have a U.S. median wage at or above the all-jobs median of $50,980.
- The best-paid is air traffic controllers, at a median of $148,080 in May 2025.
- The job in this group with the most projected openings each year is preschool teachers, except special education, with about 66,700 openings a year through 2035.
This list covers jobs that typically need an associate’s degree. It combines the government’s May 2025 wage survey (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) with the education level BLS says is typical for entry and its 10-year employment outlook (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35). “Typical” means what most new workers have when they start; some people in each job have more or less schooling.
The 15 highest-paying jobs that typically need an associate’s degree
Occupations with at least 2,000 U.S. jobs, ranked by median annual wage. Growth is the BLS projection for 2025–35.
| Occupation | U.S. median | Jobs | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | 22,510 | +1.7% |
| Nuclear Technicians | $110,240 | 6,470 | +1.1% |
| Radiation Therapists | $105,310 | 17,070 | +2.8% |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $101,370 | 17,080 | +4.4% |
| Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | 222,740 | +8.0% |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $96,590 | 90,160 | +13.9% |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $95,480 | 43,390 | +7.7% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | 11,280 | +11.9% |
| Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | 139,790 | +8.5% |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | 230,490 | +5.0% |
| Funeral Home Managers | $78,790 | 13,910 | +4.1% |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | 95,130 | +2.4% |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | 17,920 | -3.4% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | 146,190 | +1.2% |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | 36,190 | +1.3% |
Above-median pay and the fastest growth
Of the jobs in this group that pay at least the all-jobs median, these are projected to grow fastest. For comparison, BLS projects total U.S. employment to grow 3.5% over the decade.
| Occupation | U.S. median | Jobs | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $68,380 | 112,430 | +23.0% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $72,300 | 51,290 | +21.5% |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $68,020 | 38,100 | +15.9% |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $96,590 | 90,160 | +13.9% |
| Medical Equipment Repairers | $61,660 | 65,990 | +12.6% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | 11,280 | +11.9% |
| Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | 139,790 | +8.5% |
| Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | 222,740 | +8.0% |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $95,480 | 43,390 | +7.7% |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | 34,670 | +6.9% |
Where the openings are
Openings include new jobs plus replacements for workers who retire or change careers, so even slow-growing jobs can hire a lot. Average annual openings, 2025–35:
| Occupation | Openings per year | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 66,700 | $38,140 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 40,800 | $62,890 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 18,500 | $68,380 |
| Dental Hygienists | 15,000 | $98,100 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 13,400 | $47,380 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 13,000 | $80,110 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 9,100 | $66,150 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 9,000 | $76,220 |
What this means for you
- The median job in this group pays $66,985 (the middle value of the 44 occupation medians).
- Pay spreads are wide. Each wage above is a midpoint; click any occupation for its full 10th-to-90th percentile range and its best-paying states.
- Training matters too. Many of these jobs also require on-the-job training, an apprenticeship or a license on top of the entry credential.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
A related data point from a different BLS survey: full-time workers age 25 and over whose highest education was an associate's degree had median weekly earnings of $1,135 in 2025 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%, compared with $1,268 and 3.4% for all workers. Source: BLS “Education pays” table (Current Population Survey, 2025).