Associate Degree Careers and Earning a Living
Guide to different types of Associate Degree Careers
If you're thinking about going back to school, then you might be at a loss with what you should go for. What associate degree careers are available? Can you really earn a living with just an associate degree?
Well, you'll be happy to find out you can. There are plenty of great associate degree careers available, it all depends on where your interest lie.
As you can probably guess, the computer industry is a red hot field that is growing faster every day. Because almost every business in the advanced world uses computers to function everyday, having a team of people on staff that know how to fix them has become essential. If you're looking for a lucrative associate degree career, then anything in the computer industry is going to pay off big in the long run, including Network Security, Computer Programming, and careers in Information Technology. Most people with an associate degree in areas like systems administration and computer support are earning at least $50,000 per year. In some cases, they're earning much more than that.
Plus, job security is a huge bonus in the computer industry. Companies are clamoring for good IT people, so if you love computers then don't pass up this lucrative field.
If computers aren't really your thing, then another great associate degree career is dental hygiene. Dental hygienists make almost $60,000 per year and their job is very low-stress. Dental hygienists are the people who clean and prep your teeth before the dentist walks in to take a look. They have the most time with patients, so if you like working with people and don't mind teeth then this would be a great field to consider. Again, the low-stress environment is a huge perk for many people!
Another great associate degree career is that of a sonographer. Sonographers are the people who give sonograms to pregnant women so they can see their baby for the very first time. Sonographers earn around $52,500 per year, and most report feeling very rewarded in what they do.
If the medical field is right up your alley, then becoming a Registered Nurse is also a wonderful associate degree career. Registered nurses earn about the same amount per year as sonographers, but thanks to the retiring Baby Boomers hospitals and private practices are crying out for nurses to add to their staff. There is definitely a shortage of nurses right now, so if you're looking for job security and a great income then nursing might be the right career for you.
Keep in mind, however, that you need to be great with people to be a good nurse and you need to be able to handle stressful situations with ease. It's not for everyone, but if you can cut it you just might find that you love getting to interact with patients so much.
As you can see, there are plenty of wonderful associate degree careers out there. All you have to do is start researching and find out what you think you'd be most interested in doing! Remember, money is good but it doesn't count for anything if you don't love what you do.
