Many people aspire to high-paying careers but cannot or do not want to attend college for a long period of time to earn the qualifications that would allow them to compete for these jobs. If you find yourself in this category, you may want to consider obtaining an Associate’s degree.
An Associate’s degree is a two-year program that allows you to specialize in a specific field and earn qualifications that will allow you to compete for a high-paying career just like anybody else.
According to Monster’s Salary Wizards, earning an Associate’s degree in healthcare, a trade or technology will give you access to careers with a median salary of more than $45,000.
Before you enroll for an Associate’s degree, however, you should note that opting for these courses might limit your career choices to a specific field.
According to the managing director of Salary.com, Mark Syzpko, these degrees leave you inflexible in the future and limit your choices if you desire a career change in the future. Therefore, you should ensure that you are comfortable with your choice before committing thousands of dollars and two years of your life to earn an Associate’s degree.
A good way to do this is to apply for internships or volunteer work in the area you intend to study.
Nursing is one of the highest-paying careers that are accessible with an Associate’s degree. It also offers Associate’s degree holders flexibility in career development. However, registered nurses with Bachelor’s degree-level qualifications are on the increase. You should therefore be careful to seek employment with institutions and organizations that sponsor their employees for further education.
Jobs in dental hygiene have been rated the second highest-paying careers accessible with an Associate’s degree qualification. This job requires a person with good interpersonal skills to put patients at ease. You will also require good communication skills as this job also involves talking to patients about their dental hygiene and how to improve it.
An Associate’s degree in respiratory therapy involves intensive short courses such as anatomy and chemistry. This high-paying career involves assisting patients with respiratory diseases. Jobs are mostly available in hospitals or large clinics and may involve working late hours and on the weekends.
The IT industry has created opportunities for many people without Bachelor’s degrees. In this industry it is an advantage to have specialized in one or more areas. According to the vice president of Robert Half Technology, Ashley Waggoner, obtaining degrees in IT that specialize in programming will allow you to earn at least $50,000 after working for two or three years.
The list of high-paying careers for which you can obtain an Associate’s degree is endless. You can become a telecom installer with an Associate’s degree or trade certificate and further boost your earnings by joining a trade society such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical workers. Other high-paying careers include paralegals working in large law firms, industrial engineering technicians, HVAC mechanics and police officers.
