Do you want to make six figures with just an associates degree? While it may seem hard to believe, there are many jobs out there that will allow you to make very good money without a four year college degree (I know, I know it sounds too good to be true). I am going to give you a list of the top jobs in a variety of fields that will allow you to make well above the national average. As I discussed in my previous post, a four year degree doesn't always equate to job security or good pay in today's economy. That being said, it doesn't matter if you are fresh out of high school (thinking to yourself, I'm not sure about this whole being an adult thing) and trying to decide what's next or maybe you have been laid off from your job and can't find work (I knew I should have followed my dreams of becoming a rock star). Maybe you're just plain tired of being sick and tired of your current dead end job and in need of a change. No matter what your situation, I am going to present some options for you to consider.
We are going to start with the highest paying jobs and work our way down from there. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS, the number one paying job that only requires an associates degree is Air traffic controller. What does an air traffic controller do you might ask yourself? They are those guys that sit in that little tower, that nobody ever sees, and "clear us for takeoff". While this is a gross under representation, it is one small part of what they (and potentially you) do. Though it only requires an Associates degree, there is extensive on the job training which is provided after you're hired. Now many of you are probably thinking this is not a very glamorous job and seems kind of boring but I can give you 108,000 reasons why you should consider doing it. That's correct the median (definition) salary for this job is over $108,000 a year with no bachelors degree required. The second job is a general and operations manager paying $94,000. This position essentially involves supervising the day to day operations of a given field and can be performed with a minimum of one year of experience. This means that while you may not be an expert in a given field but you have a year or more of experience, then you could qualify for this position. This is not limited to a specific industry and in many cases, if you stick to the same job for a period of years you can work your way up within the company. The third job paying just under 100k is a construction manager position. Again this position doesn't require a degree and it only requires 5+ years of experience and has a median salary of 83 thousand a year. While construction in general may have taken a sharp downturn in recent years do to the economy, there are many states that have booming construction industry. In fact, according the Dept of Labor construction industry is expected to grow 24% by the year 2020.
The next industry I would like to mention is that of the oil field. The introduction of modern technology to the oil collection industry has been something of a gold rush in states. There has been 10's of thousands of people that have been made wealthy by the discovery of oil on their lands but the are not the only ones that benefit. Towns in Texas and North Dakota have been a discovery of oil or natural gas. The unemployment is hovering around 2%. These jobs in many cases are not low paying but require getting a license. Take for example a truck driver, this job pays very well with people making upwards of $2500 a week. The course to get you CDL is not extensive in most states, and with that and a hazmat certification, you can be on your way to getting your piece of the pie. Assuming you don't have any desire to be behind the wheel for the majority of your day and you're not scared to get a little dirty, then you can easily become a rig worker. While it is not glamorous and physically demanding, it will easily allow you to make $80,000 a year. This particular job requires little or no experience and most places will take you with nothing more than a GED or High school diploma. The likelihood is that the industry will continue to grow at a rate faster than they can find people to fill the positions; the time to get in is now! With the advancement of the industry and the expansion of territory that is being drilled, there will be many opportunities for people to work their way up the ladder.
If you invest in yourself and actively peruse marketable skills that make you more valuable to potential employers, there is no limit to what you can do. While school is great, it's also not for everyone. Plus, school is not cheap and it doesn't always help you get ahead. With things like: the rising of unemployment in the country, the ever increasing national as well as household debt and the cost of a four year degree at an all time high, there has never been a better time to invest in yourself!
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