3 Associate Degrees With High-Paying Jobs In 2024 ($100,000+ Salary)

There are more ways to earn six figures in pay beyond completing a four-year bachelor’s degree. It’s becoming less popular. According to a recent Yahoo Finance piece, several companies, including Google, IBM, Tesla, General Motors, Delta Airlines, and Apply, have abandoned the necessity for a four-year college degree in favor of skills-based hiring.

If you’re looking for work or arranging your professional path, this is fantastic news. Thanks to the new way that businesses are evaluating talents and workplace attitudes, you can secure a high-paying job at a reputable company without ever having to take on debt.

Assuming you consistently enhance your soft skills, also known as power skills, and gain further technical knowledge, your earning potential and professional success are virtually boundless.

What Is An Associate Degree?

An associate’s degree is an undergraduate program that lasts two years, however it might occasionally last three years. It can be pursued before a bachelor’s degree. You can take it independently to obtain a basic understanding of your subject or continue your studies to earn a full baccalaureate after finishing.

An associate degree is more commonly referred to as a foundation degree, Higher National Certificate, or Higher National Diploma in countries like the UK.

Associate Degrees with Highest Paying Jobs

Naturally, there are differences amongst associate degrees about their post-graduation financial worth. However, there are three in particular that you can use to earn a significantly high income without a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate training, even up to $100,000 or more.

In most of these situations, the only additional criteria are to continue your education and professional growth by getting licenses, passing tests, and earning more on-the-job certifications.

Regardless of whether you have pursued more coursework to earn your bachelor’s degree, this is essentially a requirement for all professions; however, if all you have is an associate’s degree, it becomes much more important.

1. Associate Degree In Nursing

The path to becoming a registered nurse begins with an associate’s degree in nursing. The annual salary of a registered nurse in the 90th percentile might reach $129,400. It’s also important to remember that your revenue can vary greatly depending on the state in which you practice.

For instance, the top 10% of nurses in California typically make more than $177,000 annually than the top 10% of nurses in any other state combined. The range of average salaries is $62,640 to $112,360.

2. Associate Degree In Construction Management

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for construction managers within this industry is growing by 5% annually, which is faster than the average growth rate for jobs up to 2032.

You can obtain an onsite position and advance through on-the-job training and specialized certifications with an associate degree in construction management, which can greatly increase your pay. The length of time you work in the position is another important aspect that determines how much you make. Range of average salaries: $114,862 to $151,536

3. Associate Degree In Nuclear Technology

You can become a nuclear technician and earn a good salary with an associate’s degree in nuclear technology. Despite not having the most well-liked or in-demand jobs, nuclear technicians are nevertheless essential to energy production and safety.

Working with nuclear power plants and conducting tests, you would be responsible for running and maintaining equipment utilized by scientists, engineers, and nuclear researchers. You would also alert others to dangerous situations including radioactive exposure. Range of average salaries: $72,040 to $105,125

Therefore, although earning more than $100,000 with only an associate degree is very uncommon, it is very possible in certain jobs. You can find yourself making more money and having little to no student loan debt if you’re in the appropriate place, dedicate yourself to accumulating years of experience, and obtain further qualifications or training.