Getting an associate degree is the single best thing that an individual with a high school diploma can do. Research shows that people with an associate degree significantly boost their earning potential and chances of landing a good job. An associate degree gives you a head start in the corporate climb and the opportunity to pursue a bachelor degree at a time of your liking.

It is important to remember that while the median income of an associate degree holder is higher than that of a high school diploma holder, you should be careful about the degree you choose – it shouldn’t be that you select a degree that pays well but does not have much scope for growth. Select an associate degree that has scope for both academic and professional growth so that you can pursue a bachelor and then a master degree should you wish to.

Also, before you get down to reading about high-paying jobs that you can land with an associate degree, remember that along with the job it is the person that holds the job who makes a difference. Your intelligence, dedication, problem-solving skills will all count. Ask yourself if you have the aptitude for a given job and where you see yourself professionally a decade down the line.

Healthcare is a growing field and there is burgeoning demand for qualified professionals; here are some well-paying jobs in the healthcare sector that you can consider.

A high school diploma and college entrance test scores are usually needed to enter a dental hygienist degree program. While in school, you will take classes in anatomy, physiology and radiography, to name a few. Nearly all states require dental hygienists to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass both a written and clinical exam. A typical dental hygienist program takes two years to complete. Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations. Job prospects will remain excellent as employment is expected to grow 30% through 2016.

• A dental hygienist associate degree assures you of an hourly wage of $30/hr. But getting the degree entails hard work. You have to clear a written and clinical exam to be able to get this degree.

• A diagnostic medical sonographer manages ultrasound equipment, scans patients and forwards these to the physician along with technical notes on the scans taken. There is an increasing requirement for sonographers as diagnostic techniques play an increasingly important role in the treatment of a condition.

• Occupational therapists rarely find themselves out of work. Their work involves taking care of the injured and helping those with disabilities. An associate degree is required to qualify for this job. If you plan for an online associate degree in occupational therapy then you should check if there are any requirements for fieldwork and the duration of fieldwork.

• Cardiovascular technicians find themselves in great demand to cater to the needs of an ageing population as people now live longer and have to deal with the heart problems that occur invariably. Invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology are the three areas of specialization for cardiovascular technicians.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 pm and is filed under Careers, Choosing a College, Degrees, General Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.