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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Auburn

Although it all depends on what you make of it, choosing to further your education may lead to higher paying job opportunities. An associate’s degree takes just two years and offers more affordable tuition rates than a four-year school. As of April 2022, the average yearly salary for an individual with an associate’s degree comes out to $45,989.

Students have a plethora of specialties to choose from when obtaining a 2-year degree, from industry-specific roles in health care or IT or a more generalized education path. Salaries differ between areas of study, job type, experience, and, of course, location. A Georgetown University study that looked at job growth and education requirements through 2020 stated that 30% of job openings required “at least some college or an associate’s degree.” Students can choose to head right into the workforce after earning an associate’s, or continue their education toward earning a bachelor’s degree.

The unemployment rate for associate’s degree holders is only 2%, according to research from the Education Data Initiative. Having an associate’s degree under your belt is proven to increase one’s chance of holding a professional or management position in any number of industries, among them education and health, wholesale retail and trade, and professional and business services.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying jobs that require a 2-year degree in Auburn-Opelika, AL using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

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#10. Preschool teachers, except special education

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,490
– #502 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 420

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,550
– Employment: 370,940
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
— Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
— Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

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#9. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $36,430
– #363 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $44,170
– Employment: 108,470
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,410)
— Napa, CA ($54,120)

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#8. Paralegals and legal assistants

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $38,880
– #468 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $56,610
– Employment: 332,720
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,640)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($76,960)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,640)

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#7. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $46,890
– #260 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $56,590
– Employment: 67,270
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,190)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($83,250)
— Baton Rouge, LA ($81,340)

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#6. Chemical technicians

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,820
– #189 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,700
– Employment: 63,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Billings, MT ($86,340)
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($79,390)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($78,000)

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#5. Dental hygienists

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,810
– #498 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $78,050
– Employment: 194,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)

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#4. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,190
– #423 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,840
– Employment: 206,720
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($127,890)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($118,480)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,100)

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#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $58,960
– #348 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $77,790
– Employment: 73,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,110)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($137,140)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,080)

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#2. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $60,770
– #87 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $59,920
– Employment: 62,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS ($94,360)
— Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($90,460)
— Baton Rouge, LA ($86,020)

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#1. Physical therapist assistants

Auburn-Opelika, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,000
– #144 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $59,440
– Employment: 92,740
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,960)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,740)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($76,390)

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