The 30 highest-paying jobs you can get with an associate's degree

Median annual wage (2012): $46,840

Projected job openings (through 2022): 7,900

Work experience: None

Description: Arrange and direct funeral services by coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $46,990

Projected job openings (through 2022): 91,200

Work experience: None

Description: Help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings by, among other things, maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $47,560

Projected job openings (through 2022): 15,600

Work experience: None

Description: Help civil engineers plan and design the construction of highways, bridges, utilities, and other major infrastructure projects.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $47,870

Projected job openings (through 2022): 12,400

Work experience: None

Description: Draw architectural and structural features of buildings or topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects like highways, bridges, and public works.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $50,360

Projected job openings (through 2022): 8,900

Work experience: None

Description: Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $50,980

Projected job openings (through 2022): 14,100

Work experience: None

Description: Help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $51,820

Projected job openings (through 2022): 4,300

Work experience: None

Description: Install, troubleshoot, repair, and upgrade electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems, like robotic assembly machines.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $51,980

Projected job openings (through 2022): 12,100

Work experience: None

Description: Design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $52,070

Projected job openings (through 2022): 23,000

Work experience: None

Description: Use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $52,160

Projected job openings (through 2022): 45,100

Work experience: None

Description: Help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries regain movement and manage pain.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $52,700

Projected job openings (through 2022): 8,100

Work experience: None

Description: Provide support to scientists and engineers in exploring and extracting natural resources, like minerals, oil, and natural gas.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $53,240

Projected job openings (through 2022): 20,500

Work experience: None

Description: Aides work under the direction of occupational therapists in treating patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $54,620

Projected job openings (through 2022): 69,600

Work experience: None

Description: Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations, like X-rays, on patients.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $55,350

Projected job openings (through 2022): 4,000

Work experience: None

Description: Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, like radar, radio, navigation, and missile-control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $55,700

Projected job openings (through 2022): 6,800

Work experience: None

Description: Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $55,870

Projected job openings (through 2022): 40,100

Work experience: None

Description: Care for patients who have trouble breathing (i.e. premature infants with undeveloped lungs; elderly patients who have diseased lungs). They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $57,850

Projected job openings (through 2022): 30,400

Work experience: None

Description: Help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $59,090

Projected job openings (through 2022): 39,600

Work experience: None

Description: Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, like local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and internet systems, or a segment of a network system.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $61,530

Projected job openings (through 2022): 2,100

Work experience: None

Description: Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $62,500

Projected job openings (through 2022): 50,700

Work experience: None

Description: Design, create, and modify websites.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $65,360

Projected job openings (through 2022): 11,300

Work experience: Less than five years

Description: Monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $65,470

Projected job openings (through 2022): 1,052,600

Work experience: None

Description: Provide and coordinate patient care; educate patients and the public about various health conditions.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $65,860

Projected job openings (through 2022): 35,300

Work experience: None

Description: Use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $66,720

Projected job openings (through 2022): 3,200

Work experience: Less than five years

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate funeral homes by determining the prices for services or merchandise and managing the facilities.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $69,069

Projected job openings (through 2022): 4,100

Work experience: None

Description: Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production.

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $70,180

Projected job openings (through 2022): 7,200

Work experience: None

Description: Use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $70,210

Projected job openings (through 2022): 113,500

Work experience: None

Description: Clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $77,560

Projected job openings (through 2022): 8,400

Work experience: None

Description: Check equipment, observe patients reactions to treatment, and document the session.

On-the-job training: None

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual wage (2012): $122,530

Projected job openings (through 2022): 11,400

Work experience: None

Description: Monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. Median annual wages of air traffic controllers are the highest of any occupation in which workers typically do not need a bachelor's degree.

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics