11 Best Jobs for Associate Degree Holders

An associate degree can be one of the fastest ways to get into a solid, well-paying career without spending 4+ years in school. If you like the idea of learning practical skills, getting hands-on training, and entering the workforce sooner, a 2-year program can be a smart move, especially in healthcare and technical fields where employers care more about licensure, certifications, and real skills than fancy job titles.

It can also be a lower-debt path. For context, average published tuition and fees are about $4,150/year at public two-year colleges (in-district) versus about $11,950/year at public four-year colleges (in-state). That gap alone can change what’s possible for you financially, even before you factor in living costs.

Key Takeaways

• Healthcare Can Be a Lucrative Career: 7 of the 11 roles are in healthcare, and several have median pay well above $65K.
• You Can Get Career-Ready Quickly: Many associate degrees are designed to be completed in about 2 years full-time, so you can start earning sooner.
• Lower Cost, Less Debt: Public two-year tuition is typically far lower than public four-year tuition, which can make your ROI way better.
• It Can Be A Launchpad: You can use an associate degree to move up through specializations, certifications, or a bachelor’s completion path later.

Why Consider an Associate Degree

If you’re trying to balance cost, time, and job outcomes, an associate degree can be a really practical choice. In many cases, you can finish in about 2 years and start working sooner than you would with a 4-year degree, which means you’re earning (and building experience) faster.

It can also be a lower-cost way to get real, career-focused training. Associate programs are often built around hands-on skills that employers actually need, especially in fields like nursing, imaging, dental hygiene, and therapy support. And if you decide later that you want a bachelor’s, you can often transfer credits and keep moving forward without starting from scratch.

11 High-Paying Associate Degree Careers

The salaries below are the median annual pay from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the job outlook is the projected change from 2024 to 2034.

Registered Nurse (ADN)

If you want a career with strong pay potential and real impact, nursing is hard to beat. An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is one of the standard paths to becoming an RN, along with BSN and diploma programs.

• Median Pay: $93,600
• Job Outlook: +5%
• What You’ll Do: Direct patient care, medication administration, care coordination, and charting in hospitals, clinics, and more.

You’ll also need to pass the NCLEX-RN, which is used by U.S. boards of nursing for RN licensure.

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygiene is one of those careers that’s consistently in demand, pays well, and can offer great scheduling flexibility depending on the office.

• Median Pay: $94,260
• Job Outlook: +7%
• What You’ll Do: Cleanings, periodontal charting, patient education, and assisting with prevention-focused care.

Most states require licensure (typically a written and clinical exam), and continuing education is common.

Radiologic and MRI Technologist

If you like tech + patient care, imaging is a strong option. You’re working with scanners, positioning patients, and producing images clinicians rely on to diagnose.

• Median Pay: $78,980
• Job Outlook: +5%
• Bonus Note: MRI technologists have a separate reported median pay of $88,180.

Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapy can be intense and meaningful. You’ll work with patients who are struggling to breathe, including those with chronic conditions and those experiencing acute emergencies.

• Median Pay: $80,450
• Job Outlook: +12%
• What You’ll Do: Treatments, ventilator management, patient monitoring, and respiratory testing, often in hospitals.

Computer Network Support Specialist

This role can be a solid entry point into IT, especially if you like troubleshooting, systems, and helping people solve problems. 

• Median Pay: $61,550
• Job Outlook: -3%

Certifications like Network+ or CCNA can help you stand out, and many people use this role to level up into sysadmin, network admin, or security later.

Web Developer

Web development is one of the most flexible careers on this list. You can work in-house, freelance, or remote, and your portfolio can matter as much as your degree.

• Median Pay: $95,380
• Job Outlook: +7%
• Education Reality Check: Requirements vary widely, from high school to bachelor’s, depending on the employer.

Paralegal

If you’re organized, detail-oriented, and like research and writing, paralegal work can be a great fit. You’ll be deep in documents, filings, and case prep.

• Median Pay: $61,010
• Job Outlook: 0% (little or no change)

Even with flat growth, there are still openings from turnover, and specializations (litigation, corporate, real estate) can help.

Physical Therapist Assistant

PTAs work directly with patients in recovery, helping them regain mobility and function. It’s hands-on and can be physically demanding, but it’s also one of the fastest-growing careers here.

• Median Pay: $60,050
• Job Outlook: +16%

Occupational Therapy Assistant

OTAs help patients improve daily living skills, like dressing, eating, working, and adapting after injury or illness. It can be especially rewarding if you enjoy coaching and creative problem-solving.

• Median Pay: $66,050
• Job Outlook: +18%

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician

If you’re into precision, systems, testing, and working alongside engineers, this is a cool career path. It can also be one of the more location-dependent roles on the list (often tied to aerospace hubs).

• Median Pay: $79,830
• Job Outlook: +8%

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Sonography is another strong healthcare path with solid pay. You’ll perform ultrasound exams and work closely with patients, often in hospitals or outpatient imaging centers.

• Median Pay: $89,340
• Job Outlook: +13%

Choosing The Right Associate Degree Career

This is where you can save yourself a ton of regret later. Before you commit, do a quick reality check in 4 areas:

1. Your Interests And Strengths: Be honest about what energizes you. Do you want people-focused work (patient care, education) or more technical work (IT, imaging, engineering)? Do you like structure, or do you want creativity and variety?
2. Your Local Job Market: A “great” career on paper can be frustrating if there are only 10 employers within commuting distance. Look up openings in your area and pay attention to required credentials.
3. Work-Life Fit: Some careers lean toward a 9–5 schedule. Others (like many hospital roles) often include weekends, nights, or 12-hour shifts. Neither is bad, but one will fit your life better.
4. ROI (Return On Investment): Try not to overcomplicate this. Compare the total program cost (tuition, fees, supplies, exam costs), realistic starting pay in your area, and how quickly you can get licensed or hired.

Advancing Your Career With An Associate Degree

An associate degree doesn’t lock you into one lane. In a lot of careers, it’s more like your first credential checkpoint.

A few ways to keep moving up:

• Stack certifications (especially in IT, healthcare specializations, and technical roles).
• Build experience with intention, such as choosing a setting that gives you broader exposure (hospital vs. small clinic, enterprise IT vs. small-business support).
• Bridge to a bachelor’s later if it meaningfully increases your earning power or unlocks leadership roles.

University Of The People’s Associate Degree Programs

If cost is your biggest barrier, tuition-free online programs can change the math completely because you’re not paying traditional tuition. University of the People offers tuition-free online associate degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Health Science, with a one-time $60 application fee and a $160 assessment fee per undergraduate course. Based on their published fee schedule, the approximate total cost for an associate degree is $3,260.

Since the programs are online and designed to be flexible, they can work well if you’re juggling a job or other responsibilities. UoPeople is also accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which matters for credibility and transfer considerations.

Final Thoughts

If you want a faster, more affordable path to a career, an associate degree can be a strong move, especially in healthcare, where licensure and hands-on training matter. Roles like dental hygienist, diagnostic medical sonographer, respiratory therapist, and PTA offer great pay and strong growth without requiring a 4-year degree to get started.

And if you’re thinking long-term, you’re not stuck. You can start working, build experience, and still keep the door open to certifications, specializations, or a bachelor’s completion path when it makes sense.

FAQs

What associate’s degree pays the most?

Based on BLS median pay data, registered nurses and dental hygienists are among the highest-paying roles commonly accessible through associate-level education paths. However, RN pay varies widely by setting and region.

Can you get a good job with just an associate’s degree?

Yes. Many associate-level careers offer median pay above $60K and strong demand, especially in healthcare and certain technical roles.

Is an associate’s degree worth it in 2026?

It can be, particularly if you pick a field with strong hiring needs, clear credentialing, and a reasonable cost-to-income ratio. Public two-year tuition is often much lower than four-year tuition, which can reduce debt and accelerate your ROI.

How long does an associate’s degree take?

Many associate degree programs are designed to take about 2 years of full-time study, though time to completion varies depending on your schedule, transfer credits, and whether you attend part-time.

Can I transfer my associate’s degree to a bachelor’s program?

Often, yes. Many schools accept transfer credits from accredited institutions, and an associate degree can be a practical stepping stone into a bachelor’s completion program (especially if you plan your courses with transfer in mind).