10 Best Jobs Requiring Two-Year Degrees According to MSN Careers...

[Zim Hosein]

To continue school or not continue school? That is the question for many high school graduates.


Although college can improve your career opportunities and increase your lifetime earnings, it also takes four years (or more) of your life and a lot of money. Plus, few majors can guarantee a financial return that will offset the financial debt many students will accumulate during college.

Two-year degrees, of which an associate degree is the most common, provide training and education for a variety of fields in approximately half the time as a bachelor's degree. Plus, you can earn an associate degree from a local community college for a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree at a university. Also, for most areas of study, an associate degree puts you halfway toward a four-year degree should you decide to pursue later.

Perhaps more important to students wondering about their educational future, workers with associate degrees on average earn more money than their counterparts with high school diplomas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over a 40-year period, high school graduates will earn a total of $1.2 million, while workers with associate degrees will earn $1.6 million.

Is it any surprise two-year degrees are becoming an increasingly attractive option for many people?

Based on salary, industry employment and projected job growth, here are 10 of the best jobs for workers with two-year degrees:

10 Best Jobs Requiring Two-Year Degrees.

This list is quite perplexing IMO, how are "Computer specialists" at the number one spot? H*ll "Fashion Designers" are number 3?

 

[Excelsior]

Mine isn't on there, but its median income is higher than all but a couple on the list.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Mine isn't on there, but its median income is higher than all but a couple on the list.

What's your profession if you don't mind me asking Excelsior?

 

[TruePaige]

The Median income for two year degree holding computer specialist (wtf does that mean) is around 70k? What the hell?

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

To continue school or not continue school? That is the question for many high school graduates.


Although college can improve your career opportunities and increase your lifetime earnings, it also takes four years (or more) of your life and a lot of money. Plus, few majors can guarantee a financial return that will offset the financial debt many students will accumulate during college.

Two-year degrees, of which an associate degree is the most common, provide training and education for a variety of fields in approximately half the time as a bachelor's degree. Plus, you can earn an associate degree from a local community college for a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree at a university. Also, for most areas of study, an associate degree puts you halfway toward a four-year degree should you decide to pursue later.

Perhaps more important to students wondering about their educational future, workers with associate degrees on average earn more money than their counterparts with high school diplomas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over a 40-year period, high school graduates will earn a total of $1.2 million, while workers with associate degrees will earn $1.6 million.

Is it any surprise two-year degrees are becoming an increasingly attractive option for many people?

Based on salary, industry employment and projected job growth, here are 10 of the best jobs for workers with two-year degrees:

10 Best Jobs Requiring Two-Year Degrees.

This list is quite perplexing IMO, how are "Computer specialists" at the number one spot? H*ll "Fashion Designers" are number 3?

"Computer Specialists" are people who actually go out in the field and fix th estuff. The term is kind of wrong. It should be field technician or something.

 

[Scouzer]

The median income for my job is higher than anyone on that list and it requires no degree.

 

[ScottyB]

All those people make more money than I do, and I have two B.A. degrees. And I am going to get an MFA next. Hopefully I can make it to above poverty wages after that time

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Mine isn't on there, but its median income is higher than all but a couple on the list.

What's your profession if you don't mind me asking Excelsior?

I am pursuing the degree now. A year left. It will be in Radiation Therapy.

 

[Excelsior]

*double post*

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
The median income for my job is higher than anyone on that list and it requires no degree.

not everyone is gifted enough to become a pornstar

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
The Median income for two year degree holding computer specialist (wtf does that mean) is around 70k? What the hell?

 

[Bill Brasky]

For me, undergrad was just a stepping stone to grad school.

 

[Chaotic42]

I'd finish school. I got lucky and got a job in my industry with only a high school diploma. I got my Associate's while I was working, but I think they're set on BS degrees. It's funny to see just how worthless some degrees can be in the real world.

I'm around the bottom of that list in pay, but I have no student loans. Suckers!

 

[BrownTown]

I can't even imagine someone who as a chance to get a bachelors degree not taking it. I mean its one thing if you parents kicked you out of the house and you have to work to stay alive, but anything short of that you would be a total idiots not to get a bachelors degree imo. I mean you just got to play the odds here, sure SOME people without a degree tdo well in life, but it helps your chances HUGELY.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
I can't even imagine someone who as a chance to get a bachelors degree not taking it. I mean its one thing if you parents kicked you out of the house and you have to work to stay alive, but anything short of that you would be a total idiots not to get a bachelors degree imo. I mean you just got to play the odds here, sure SOME people without a degree tdo well in life, but it helps your chances HUGELY.

Elitist snob.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

To continue school or not continue school? That is the question for many high school graduates.


Although college can improve your career opportunities and increase your lifetime earnings, it also takes four years (or more) of your life and a lot of money. Plus, few majors can guarantee a financial return that will offset the financial debt many students will accumulate during college.

Two-year degrees, of which an associate degree is the most common, provide training and education for a variety of fields in approximately half the time as a bachelor's degree. Plus, you can earn an associate degree from a local community college for a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree at a university. Also, for most areas of study, an associate degree puts you halfway toward a four-year degree should you decide to pursue later.

Perhaps more important to students wondering about their educational future, workers with associate degrees on average earn more money than their counterparts with high school diplomas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over a 40-year period, high school graduates will earn a total of $1.2 million, while workers with associate degrees will earn $1.6 million.

Is it any surprise two-year degrees are becoming an increasingly attractive option for many people?

Based on salary, industry employment and projected job growth, here are 10 of the best jobs for workers with two-year degrees:

10 Best Jobs Requiring Two-Year Degrees.

This list is quite perplexing IMO, how are "Computer specialists" at the number one spot? H*ll "Fashion Designers" are number 3?

ive been reading lately and network/datacenter guys are so in demand that in some instances guys with 2 years degrees are getting 100k/yr or better, but the positions require a fair amount of experiences.

ive noticed around where im from, eastern nc, that regular IT requirements are usually a 4 year degree or a 2 year and 2 years experience and start @ ~33k/year. my cousin just finished a 4 year at NCSU and is getting 40k/year doing web design

im going for an associates myself, though i hope to get a bachelors some time in the future.

nursing definitely makes sense, the nursing programs here dont have enough room for all the applicants, and NC is projected to have a shortage of nurses for some time into the future, last i heard.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Mine isn't on there, but its median income is higher than all but a couple on the list.

Same here but #9 on pay scale, $42k w/o benefit perks, if I were to compare it to that list.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
I can't even imagine someone who as a chance to get a bachelors degree not taking it. I mean its one thing if you parents kicked you out of the house and you have to work to stay alive, but anything short of that you would be a total idiots not to get a bachelors degree imo. I mean you just got to play the odds here, sure SOME people without a degree tdo well in life, but it helps your chances HUGELY.

My sister did just that. After her first year at UGA, she decided she wanted to become a dental hygienist so she transferred to a community college that specialize that field. She's doing very well and works the hours she wants to work. If she worked full-time, she would make $100k a year. Full-time in her office is actually less than 40 hours a week.

It's a great profession if you're a female and job placement after graduation is like 99.99%. Pretty much everyone in her class got multiple job offers after graduation and getting their license.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

True, but you could always try your hand at something like Ice Road Trucking or Alaskan Crab Fishing if you want a high paying job without a degree. Judging from some the people who they talk to on those reality shows, I don't think that they even require a GED!

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

True, but you could always try your hand at something like Ice Road Trucking or Alaskan Crab Fishing if you want a high paying job without a degree. Judging from some the people who they talk to on those reality shows, I don't think that they even require a GED!

orrr you could get a bachelor's if you don't want to do manual labor

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

True, but you could always try your hand at something like Ice Road Trucking or Alaskan Crab Fishing if you want a high paying job without a degree. Judging from some the people who they talk to on those reality shows, I don't think that they even require a GED!

orrr you could get a bachelor's if you don't want to do manual labor

I've a bachelor, and I'm doing manual labor. :Q

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

True, but you could always try your hand at something like Ice Road Trucking or Alaskan Crab Fishing if you want a high paying job without a degree. Judging from some the people who they talk to on those reality shows, I don't think that they even require a GED!

orrr you could get a bachelor's if you don't want to do manual labor

I've a bachelor, and I'm doing manual labor. :Q

Yeah, it's a stereotype that having a degree means keeping your hands clean. Lots and lots of engineers get field jobs that require them to do real work. I'm sure there are other fields where it's the same way.

My job requires a 2 year degree from a tech school for one without experience, but you could make 60k the first year. I've yet to finish my BSEE but when I do I'll likely move out of my current role.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Even many entry-level white collar jobs require a Bachelor's degree.

True, but you could always try your hand at something like Ice Road Trucking or Alaskan Crab Fishing if you want a high paying job without a degree. Judging from some the people who they talk to on those reality shows, I don't think that they even require a GED!

orrr you could get a bachelor's if you don't want to do manual labor

I've a bachelor, and I'm doing manual labor. :Q

Yeah, it's a stereotype that having a degree means keeping your hands clean. Lots and lots of engineers get field jobs that require them to do real work. I'm sure there are other fields where it's the same way.

My job requires a 2 year degree from a tech school for one without experience, but you could make 60k the first year. I've yet to finish my BSEE but when I do I'll likely move out of my current role.

Yeah. BS is overrated lots of times. There are also lots of jobs that require a BS but also require you to do manual labor.