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Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Tuscaloosa

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 Tuscaloosa, AL using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

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#15. Preschool teachers, except special education

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,300
– #493 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

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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#14. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $31,450
– #366 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,860
– Employment: 109,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)

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#13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $35,970
– #227 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,940
– Employment: 55,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($99,130)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($94,400)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($92,140)

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#12. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $37,940
– #336 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

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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#11. Paralegals and legal assistants

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,130
– #332 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

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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#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,270
– #278 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

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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#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,460
– #468 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

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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#8. Respiratory therapists

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,730
– #390 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,640
– Employment: 131,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,450)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,330)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($101,690)

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#7. Dental hygienists

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,260
– #500 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

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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#6. Chemical technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,020
– #114 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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. Architectural and civil drafters

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,600
– #259 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $59,120
– Employment: 99,180
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($76,060)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,700)
— Anchorage, AK ($75,650)

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#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $60,640
– #341 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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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#3. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $63,250
– #64 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

Canva

#2. Physical therapist assistants

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $64,080
– #79 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

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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#1. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $67,210
– #129 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,310
– Employment: 115,270
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area ($99,890)
— Fort Collins, CO ($91,980)
— Bakersfield, CA ($90,780)

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