15 fast-growing, high-paying jobs that only require an associate's degree

Advertisement
15 fast-growing, high-paying jobs that only require an associate's degree
  • Dental hygienist is one job that pays above the median wage and is projected to see job growth over a decade.
  • That job also typically only needs an associate's degree, unlike dentists or orthodontists.

Dental hygienist, a job that typically only needs an associate's degree for entry, is projected to see job growth of 19,000 between 2021 to 2031, according to employment projection data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With a median annual pay of $77,810, this job also pays above the median annual wage for all jobs in the US, which is $45,760.

Unlike dentists or orthodontists — which are actually projected to see smaller increases in employment from 2021 to 2031 compared to dental hygienists — a dental hygienist typically doesn't need a doctoral or professional degree for entry. They typically only need an associate's degree.

Insider recently analyzed jobs that pay above the median annual wage for all occupations in the US and that also have some kind of job growth over 10 years, from 2021 to 2031. After ranking our list of high-paying, growing jobs based on the geometric mean of projected job growth from 2021 to 2031 and median annual wages, we wanted to just look at the set of jobs that make the top of the list when only looking at those that typically need an associate's degree.

With this methodology, paralegals and legal assistants made the top of this list. This job has a typical pay of $56,230 and is projected to grow by 49,900 from 2021 to 2031.

The following are 15 occupations that typically only need an associate's degree for entry, that pay above the median annual pay, and are projected to see future job growth.

Advertisement

15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 64,200

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,220

14. Chemical technicians

14. Chemical technicians
Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 60,400

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,700

Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,990

Advertisement

13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
andresr/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 58,100

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,700

Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,570

12. Funeral home managers

12. Funeral home managers
Nikola Stojadinovic/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 40,700

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,800

Median annual wage in May 2021: $74,000

Advertisement

11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Monty Rakusen/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 41,200

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 3,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,360

10. Health information technologists and medical registrars

10. Health information technologists and medical registrars
Heath Korvola/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 39,900

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 7,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $55,560

Advertisement

9. Medical equipment repairers

9. Medical equipment repairers
Arctic-Images/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 59,100

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 10,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $49,910

8. Occupational therapy assistants

8. Occupational therapy assistants
Terry Vine/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 43,400

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 11,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,730

Advertisement

7. Radiologic technologists and technicians

7. Radiologic technologists and technicians
Phil Boorman/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 222,800

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 14,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,370

6. Computer network support specialists

6. Computer network support specialists
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 185,500

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 13,800

Median annual wage in May 2021: $62,760

Advertisement

5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
Martinns/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 82,300

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 12,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,740

4. Respiratory therapists

4. Respiratory therapists
Mayur Kakade/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 135,800

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 18,400

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,830

Advertisement

3. Dental hygienists

3. Dental hygienists
Javier Zayas Photography/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 214,000

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 19,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,810

2. Physical therapist assistants

2. Physical therapist assistants
Andersen Ross Photography Inc/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 96,500

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 25,600

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,180

Advertisement

1. Paralegals and legal assistants

1. Paralegals and legal assistants
fizkes/Getty Images

Employment in 2021: 352,800

Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 49,900

Median annual wage in May 2021: $56,230