U.S. associate-degree jobs by median annual wage; US$ per year, 2024.
U.S. occupations typically requiring an associate’s degree are ranked by median annual wage in 2024. Values are current U.S. dollars per year under one common BLS occupation framework. The first-ranked occupation is air traffic controllers at US$144,580, ahead of nuclear technicians at US$104,240. The third-ranked occupation is radiation therapists at US$101,990, and the education category describes the typical entry route rather than a universal requirement.
| Rank | Entry | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air traffic controllers | 144,580 | 2024 |
| 2 | Nuclear technicians | 104,240 | 2024 |
| 3 | Radiation therapists | 101,990 | 2024 |
| 4 | Nuclear medicine technologists | 97,020 | 2024 |
| 5 | Dental hygienists | 94,260 | 2024 |
| 6 | Diagnostic medical sonographers | 89,340 | 2024 |
| 7 | MRI technologists | 88,180 | 2024 |
| 8 | Respiratory therapists | 80,450 | 2024 |
| 9 | Aerospace engineering technologists | 79,830 | 2024 |
| 10 | Radiologic technologists | 77,660 | 2024 |
| 11 | Other engineering technologists | 77,390 | 2024 |
| 12 | Electrical & electronic engineering techs | 77,180 | 2024 |
| 13 | Funeral home managers | 76,830 | 2024 |
| 14 | Electrical and electronics drafters | 73,720 | 2024 |
| 15 | Computer network support specialists | 73,340 | 2024 |
Source 1: Employment Projections 2024–2034
Publisher: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Dataset/table: Occupational Projections and Worker Characteristics, 2024–2034
Units: US dollars per year
Date checked: 2026-07-15
Evidence: Provides median annual wage and supporting occupation characteristics for the complete 48-row comparison.
Wages are median annual wages in current U.S. dollars. The education category describes the typical entry route and is not a universal requirement for every worker or employer. Supporting employment and opening figures come from the same BLS release.
Occupations are limited to those for which an associate's degree is the typical entry-level education and ranked by 2024 median annual wage. Broad occupation groups are excluded. The graphic uses the top 15 entries, while the accompanying data table retains all 48 comparable occupations.
All occupations use the same national BLS release, 2024 base year, 2034 projection year, education classification and measurement basis, supporting a like-for-like comparison.
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