Ranking · original analysis of BLS and O*NET data
Highest-paying jobs with an associate's degree
Occupations where an associate's degree is the most commonly reported education requirement, ranked by national median wage.
Quick answer
Among occupations where an associate's degree is the most commonly reported requirement, Facilities Manager pays the highest median, $106,660 (BLS May 2025).
The ranking
30 occupations
Data Every figure is from BLS OEWS May 2025 or O*NET 31.0; the selection rule is below.
| # | Occupation | Median pay | Report this level | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Facilities Manager | $106,660 | 57% | 156,180 |
| 2 | Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | 50% | 17,070 |
| 3 | Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $101,370 | 63% | 17,080 |
| 4 | Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | 75% | 222,740 |
| 5 | MRI Tech | $95,480 | 65% | 43,390 |
| 6 | Technical Writer | $90,390 | 35% | 45,500 |
| 7 | Funeral Home Managers | $78,790 | 50% | 13,910 |
| 8 | Executive Assistant | $76,590 | 34% | 459,910 |
| 9 | Camera Operator | $74,990 | 61% | 21,550 |
| 10 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | 63% | 62,960 |
| 11 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | 46% | 65,010 |
| 12 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | 92% | 51,290 |
| 13 | Physical Therapy Assistant | $68,380 | 84% | 112,430 |
| 14 | School Counselor | $64,330 | 3% | 353,310 |
| 15 | Health Educator | $64,070 | 62% | 65,690 |
| 16 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $63,820 | 42% | 114,110 |
| 17 | Chef | $62,470 | 54% | 200,040 |
| 18 | Insurance Agent | $62,280 | 16% | 479,100 |
| 19 | IT Support Specialist | $61,860 | 14% | 717,190 |
| 20 | Medical Equipment Repairers | $61,660 | 39% | 65,990 |
| 21 | Embalmer | $58,780 | 86% | 3,890 |
| 22 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $55,940 | 30% | 81,480 |
| 23 | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $55,570 | 48% | 156,280 |
| 24 | Mortician | $55,010 | 73% | 25,100 |
| 25 | Travel Agent | $50,160 | 37% | 55,110 |
| 26 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | 0% | 44,970 |
| 27 | File Clerks | $43,600 | 38% | 73,440 |
| 28 | Data Entry Clerk | $41,340 | 11% | 127,080 |
| 29 | Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | 6% | 55,230 |
| 30 | Dietetic Technician | $37,640 | 35% | 31,560 |
Method
How this page is built
Occupations whose most common O*NET-reported education requirement is an associate's degree, ranked by BLS national median annual wage, May 2025.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Pay at a specific employer or for self-employed workers.
- Openings in your area: these are national figures.
- Whether a job suits you personally.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.