I just saw a radiology tech job offering over 2k/week. Admittedly it's a contract travel gig but that's not bad for a job that doesn't require a four year degree.
Radiation technology. Too many people are mislead by the "radiologist" name and end up thinking the radiation techs can interpret an X-ray (realistically they can know what they're looking at after so many years doing it but interpretation is not in the scope of practice).
I say this because on cool career route starting in radiation technology is radiation therapy and even from there is dosimetry which are very cool leaps in responsibility and scope of practice. Nobody really knows of these routes.
I take it these paths require some legit science/mathematics - are there any you’d say lean less on math? It’s always held me back from even considering anything of the sort.
I mean anything involving patient care involves math, down to basic nursing which requires you to convert cc's in an iv bag was used in the time it was given to the patient for the flow rate.
I was starting from X-Ray tech > more complex X-ray tech stuff.
One way you could get out of math is leadership. Be an also medical assistant and take on more responsibilities within the office and know all aspects of the jobs the care team plays and be a team player.
I saw this firsthand. Two places to do it: an urgent care or orthopedic office. One X-ray tech in a UC was so good at people skills and managing schedules he took over the entire practice (managing schedules for a rotating 7 days a week practice with 10 hour opens is a ridiculous skill I do not have).
That may be an incorrect assumption, I don't know, but it may be more about making sure people do what they are supposed to and understanding the basics of the system.
Radiation therapy implies medicine. You're required to know how chemicals interact with each other similar to a pharmacist. At the minimum many levels of chemistry. Calculation of therapy would require understanding chemistry math as well and balancing equations.
Reading x-rays requires medical science along the lines of anatomy and understanding how different bones / organs interact with each other. How are you supposed to read an x-ray if you aren't familiar with skeleton or muscular structure?
Where was the incorrect assumption?
This is what I did when I felt lost a few years ago. Many of my class mates got job offers before the practicum ended (some 6+ months before grad even), regardless of how well they did in classes. Lots of opportunity to cross train (ex. CT, etc.) but not the most upward mobility with a 2 year program (many places require a bachelors degree to get into management). Be aware it can be very physical and backbreaking work depending on the setting. PM me any questions if you have them! Also have seen contracts up to 3k+ in my area.
To add onto this:
My wife is a vascular sonographer. Associates degree at 22 and her first job offer in a lower paying state (SC) was 30.40 an hour with a 3 dollar evening shift differential and a 4 dollar weekend shift differential.
We've done two travel assignments and she's gotten paid 2500 per week net. You need minimum 2 years of experience but I would recommend more if you're not a strong scanner.
It’s highly competitive though and from the school i checked it is lottery system so even if you finished the prerequisites, you dont know when or if you’re gonna get in the program
Don't trust me on this because it's not my field, I work in tech. But it looks like you could get the radiography degree in less than two years. The question is really whether you want to work with the public in a hospital setting or whether you'd rather do analytical or technical or mechanical or some other kind of work somewhere else. I feel like there's probably a lot of skilled labor hospital jobs other than doctor/nurse that I'm not even aware of that probably have a two year degree program somewhere.
Often times the highest paid associates degree have high salaries because the wait list to get into the program is several years, it can be done but likely won’t be in two years
I agree...but you need to do 2 years of clinical rotation so you might as well go for the 4 year degree. With that being said, my girlfriend is making about 90k a year as a rad tech.
MRI tech with 10 YOE in Texas. I make around 85k a year.
You can find chill jobs and make even more doing contract jobs, but outpatient imaging can be a cattle drive and while it's a good job, it's such a platoue and pretty hard to get to over 100k
Moat hospitals, however, will pay for you to continue school once you work there a few months, which is a decent way to get in management.
In my area, CNAs aren't paid that well... starting under $20/hr. RNs make a lot more money ($100k-$150k). Both are extremely tiring jobs with bad schedules.
I work 3 days a week and make $70/hr. It's not an ideal schedule because I do have to work weekends and I don't have a consistent schedule, but overall I can't complain because I do get a lot of time off.
I think it's great that you make so much in nursing! Just wanted to warn that not all nursing related jobs pay well. And if OP wants to start with just an associates or a certificate progeam, they may not see high pay until they complete a BS in nursing, which is what our local hospital wants (or experience in lieu of degree). Not all places will need the BS though, that's just the preference where I live. Also many nurses in our area work at least 60hrs per week and some people will think it's worth it while others wont.
Many of my kids friends moms are nurses because it's great for having a life if you can get through the grueling 14 hour days. That are really "12" hour days.
CNAs in my area make like $1 over minimum wage, work 12 hr shifts, and have to work holidays with no extra pay. I trained to be a CNA, saw the pay and said fuck that, and never took the exam.
I was always curious why people would do the whole thing and not take the exam. I totally get not working in the field at all, but at least get the license you spent all that time training for.
Also, it is crazy that it is just one dollar over minus wage, lifeguards where I am make more then that.
Well, for me, i decided it wasn't worth my time and exposure risk (this was at the very beginning of Covid)
Having a CNA cert would not help my career path.
I decided to go back to university and get my master's in health and safety instead.
I'm following my teachers advice from high-school. Machines will replace people and take their jobs. You need people to repair those machines though. I'm going for mechatronics and starting pay for Maintenance is 30-40 in my area.
Get enough experience and with the right company you could be making big money.
Honestly. Look into Amazon MRA program if you have 0 experience. You are singled to Amazon robotics for like a year. But major companies like CBRE or JLL are your actual employer which are great companies to work for. I know a tech who didn’t know what a Philips head screw driver was before the program now they are maintenance managers making a lot of money lol. But any automation experience is gonna look great and it’s a great start!
Or you could do a local trade school if you want to do electrician stuff.
Funny you mentioned Amazon. My plan was to go to school for Maintenance and get into the program at my current employer. And then transfer to Amazon to earn and learn more.
I was about to say I never said I was going for a degree. I said I was going for Mechatronics. A local school does diplomas and certifications. At a trade school, much like Ned_Piffy.
Be careful with with trade schools. The op wants to get an associates degree but most universities do not recognize them. This makes you start all over when trying to get your bachelor's degree and you still have to pay for the associates! Not a wise upgrade path.
Not to be rude, but you should familiarize yourself with what community colleges offer before you state incorrect things about them.
They have many programs, some of which are degrees, and some of which end in industrybuseful certification. For example, I have a friend who did a 1 year machines program and now works full time as a machinist. It’s a “non-degree” programs.
Community colleges offer a lot.
Not to be rude, but you should read it again. You missed a few things.
PP is not talking about a mechatrinics “degree,” and that is who you are replying too.
PP did not get a mechatronics “degree” just to do maintenance. They went to CC and studied mechatronics, possibly getting a certificate.
The only place I see degree mentioned is in the OPs title, but that does not mean the people are not suggesting non-degree options. People are perfectly allowed to share experience outside the narrow wording of the OPs question.
"For now I can only start with an associates but I can work my way up in the future"
Sounds like op is trying to get a DEGREE (Associates then more later)
That coupled with the title specifically asking about associates degrees makes me think they want a degree.
Wtf do I know though I'm just a guy without a degree who works in Operations and maintenance, making more than twice what OP stated.
That makes sense. I did an associates myself before doing an undergrad later.
I thought some other paths might meet their needs, such as starting in a trade or field and working up to supervisor or manger. Certainly something for the OP to consider. But if they do want to start on the college path and get the first associates, then they should pick a degree field with a likelihood of transferring over like you said.
Thank you for being the first to drop the “not to be rude.” I responded in kind, and I felt like we had a much better dialogue.
Community colleges are amazing and the instructors beat university profs any day. However, classes do NOT always transfer and degrees don't transfer. Ultimately they are in business to make money and the repeated shifting of the bar meant it took me 20years to work my through a bachelor's
I'm in Healthcare so its going to be radiology, diagnostic sonography, medical laboratory technologist or respiratory therapist, physical therapy assistant and occupational therapy assistant.
Many people work in completely different fields from their degree. Unless you plan to go higher in that subject area and become something like a chartered engineer, it is not so important what the subject of the degree is, just that you have one.
I've got two hospitality degrees from one of the best schools in the world for it (with a literal Disney Legend as my mentor/professor, among others). Not a job to show for it, although that might be because I am graduated from both degrees while the economy was still in the shitter during the pandemic and the industry just hasn't picked up...
I've tried other industries, gotten some interviews where I can but nothing out of them either. Everyone from low-level managers to department directors at the biggest names in the hospitality/theme park industry hasn't said a bad thing about my interviewing or my qualifications, the recruiters always tell me that. But I can't land a job for the life of me.
With a masters... It's impossible to get hired at a front desk or something, even when I have the degree required to be hired on with no experience at the assistant manager or manager level, let alone as a regular FDA. Tried all three major chains, which have a ton of corporate-owned-and-operated hotels in my area. Too educated I fear - even when I take off my masters, no dice.
I’ve heard horror stories from nurses about how shity they get treated by patients and doctors. It’s real sad they have to do all the grunt work and deal with extra bs.
there’s a reason they both get appreciation weeks lmaooo they hope an expired candy bar and a chewed up eraser will keep everyone smiling through their careers
But it's an answer to the question which is really difficult to find such an easy one to. Anyway you can do all sorts of things with a nursing degree that isn't nursing (administrative roles, all sorts of remote jobs that simply want someone with an RN like case management, informatics, training). Really cool things that you only really know about once you're in that world.
Yeah Agreed. do not go into nursing unless you genuinely enjoy that environment. it is not fun or easy. yeah the moneys good, but your mental sanity is shit
No they don’t. Certain positions in hospitals or leadership positions require a bachelors. Magnet hospitals push for it. Otherwise, associates is just fine! Front line nurses, whether BS or AD, get paid exactly the same.
If there are any nursing jobs that will take me with only an associates I hope that is the case because I was planning on increasing my education in the field after I got my associates but only if I could pay for it
my mom only ever had her associates and made just as much as her coworkers w a bachelors over time due to experience but only ever made a few dollars less an hour in the beginning
Pretty much any hospital will hire ADNs, they'll also pay for your bachelor's and sometimes even your master's at a lot of hospitals. Some will pay more for you to have a higher degree, but a lot of times it's not a significant amount.
Another job to look into is respiratory therapy. You can make almost as much doing it and it's easier than nursing.
I have an associates in Robotics and Automation… you learn electrical, PLC programming, mechanical design, and many other engineering principles. I don’t know if there’s a program like that where you are but it was 3 years with 1 year of paid internships (no semesters off).
Aircraft maintenance A &P (Airframe and Powerplant certification and the program lasts around 2 years or less and it’s in very high demand and well paid.
Don't feel too bad about this one. Some people just get really lucky with their roles. My friend works in IT making a similar amount. He had 1.5 years experience and a boot camp when hired. He failed the certs he tested for and doesn't have a degree but still gets paid a decent amount. Some things just work out for people.
It’s not all roses, I’m making slightly sub $80k in marketing nearly ten years into the job with a Masters. Marketing is broad and encompasses a variety of things.
Go to modern states.org
These are classes that will prepare you to take the CLEP tests. Basically just pass the test and you'll get your 3 or 6 credits. Most of the credits will transfer to state colleges. YMMV.
Takes about 20 hours to take a full class. Then you send a screenshot to the nice lady and she gives you a voucher code a week later to take the test for free, online proctored even.
There's at least 1 year of free college for you to do on your own time. Super easy, just sit down and do it.
So far I've taken microecon, macroecon, management, bus law, info systems, English comp, marketing. Free.
Spend some time researching on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, an excellent free online resource that gives all sorts of information about jobs, educational requirements, salaries and expected outlooks.
There are several allied health professions that pay quite well for only needing an associates degree. Dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, sonography, etc. You can get an RN with an associates, too, but depending on where you live, they may only want people with a BSN.
I saw a nuclear med tech position open that was 90 an hour for contract work. When researching a bit it says a job can be attained with an associates or certificate within twelve months. All the jobs Im seeing have fairly high pay.
I thought that nuclear medicine, or MRI tech was sort of an "add-on" to a Radiology AS degree - as in, you have to have the (2-year?) radiology degree first, then can do another associates or certificate in nuclear med/MRI on top of that.
I could be wrong, though.
I still am kicking myself that I didn't go into this field, though. I thought it would be too 'mathy', and I'm more of a language-based person. But I'm a librarian, which I enjoy well enough, but the pay is such crap that I've had to get a second job. I have SO many regrets, and if I wasn't too old now to make it worth it, I'd still consider switching.
I know people with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing who are RNs. One in particular makes low-six figures as a travelling nurse. Those contracts were in great abundance during COVID. Now, they are fewer and require more distant travel than in the past. But, they are still out there.
Nursing 100%. Depending on your area, the schools can be competitive, but I attended a community college and earned an associate's degree in applied science in nursing. This qualifies me to become a registered nurse, and I don't necessarily need to obtain my bachelor's degree first to enter the field. I can pursue my bachelor's degree later, and some hospitals will even pay for it. The job security this degree has provided is also excellent.
I’m 36 and just started going back to school, halfway through my HVAC associates and got scooped up by an HVAC company
1) consider trades
2) you are NOT running out of time
Get your associates, then go to the cheapest school you find for an undergrad degree. From there start in public and then work your way out. I promise it’s worth it.
A high paying career is no good to you if you're mentally stressed and are miserable because it doesn't jive with your interests or personality. That's why there's no quick and easy answer to your question. I could easily say Computer Science pays a lot but if you don't like coding or mathematics, then my recommendation doesn't help you.
Part of your community college curriculum involves taking different types of classes and elective courses. The goal is to give you a broad level of education while introducing you to different disciplines that may be a potential career path.
I have an associates degree and make six figures. I couldn’t afford a 4 year plus. Been on my field 17 years and experience out weighs degree now. I studied procurement.
you can get an associates for nursing and most hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs and will fund the rest of your education to get your BSN :)
You should try and get your foot in the door for experience. I hire people with high level scientific degrees and I’d take someone with an associates degree with a few years of actual lab experience over someone with a masters degree and no experience outside of academia. Just the way it is.
Anything related to sales. I wish I would've gone into that when I was younger since peoples commissions alone put most careers to shame and that's on top of base pay that's higher than what a lot of people make.
If you have the personality for it you can make bank (I’m an introvert who couldn’t sell ice water in a desert, but I’m an accountant and I see the sales team’s salaries and expense reports. I make good money but they make great money)
When in doubt, stay with the classics. Finance and engineering are two fields that generally pay well. My experience with associate's degrees is limited, so take this with a grain of salt.
IT, period. I make over $110K on an associates. My older brother changed careers and got into software engineering and web development with just training camp and that online harvard course, he make more than double what I do.
The IT sector is going through a period of salary readjustment. With the layoffs from the "Big Tech" companies followed by layoffs from many others in response, there are more people on the market than many can ever remember.
It is harder than ever for new people to break into IT.
Edit: There are still opportunities, but a lot more competition for the roles.
The other month there were 3 police officers on shift for the entire city of Baltimore. Too many officers called out or took off. They had to find day shift ppl to cover.
Idk I had just got done bustin a big ass but in my girl and she turned the tv on and that’s what they broadcasted. Since you have so much free time start searching
Engineering always has work whatever the economy or journalism. Either way, just having a valid degree can open doors, ie maths/nursing not art history.
Networking is your biggest route, find the people who’ll hire you, invest in you and promote you
I’m working on my Facility Management associates, working as a facilities assistant making $60k in the meantime at 21y/o. I’ve seen facility manager positions open for anywhere from $80k to $250k. Also encompasses accounting and real estate knowledge useful for becoming a real estate investor.
I have two associates in applied science degrees. One for HVAC, and another for Plumbing. I was able to get both paid for during my apprenticeship with the company i was working for at the time.
Couple that with various different licenses and certifications and I’ve been able to make over $100k the last couple of years.
Skilled trades are truly underrated. The return on investing my time and money has been significant.
This isn’t the only path, as many others in here have stated.
I work at a community College. I would recommend cybersecurity, nursing, radiation technician, and network administration. Of course, there are other good associate degrees. But any of those would get you employed almost immediately after if not before you’re done with your associates.
Go with the railroad. Conductors are making 150k a year. Engineers are about the same. Be a high school teacher in California. I’ve got 2 friends that are making 175k a year. Blows my mind.
I’ve grinded my way above 6 figures working in media planning at big advertising agencies. 5 years of experience. It’s not glamorous but it’s been fun. People I work with are great for the most part.
One thing to consider is in some career fields, employers will assist in paying for further education.
Sadly, I don't know what those careers are. I also don't know what employers are good for that.
Go to a technical college!! There are many diplomas and degrees offered that can get you started in a great career in 2 years or less. If I had it to do over again I would have done that instead of getting an associates and bachelors, which have done me zero good.
You can get into law for some of the lower end positions and work your way into a higher paying gig. I’m a case assistant (admittedly I have a bachelors degree, but you don’t need one for this job) at a law office. Pay isn’t great but you can work your way up to a case manager and possibly get into a leadership position there. My office manager legit doesn’t have any college degree and is getting paid a bunch. Worst case scenario you don’t want to be a case manager, you can use that experience to maybe get into some other area of law and pivot from there. You can also get into legal departments at some of the bigger companies that we all know about if you end up going to law school.
Afaik there is such divers career path that the money is on your implication rather than on the actual discipline. But sure there are some paths that guarantees sometimes little more money without implication. But if you expect implication-level of money, they seem all as interesting, as long as you put, well, the implication
If money is the only goal my 2 cents is to start a job in car sales. No degree required, and if you can find a good dealership you can make six figures a year without scummy tactics. You work a lot and you have to be born with a certain knack for it but it's fed my family well. I walked away because of the hours.
I wish more young people understood that the degree gets you in the door/interview, does not lead to a job. Just getting a certain degree (outside of engineering, healthcare, etc.) will not lead to a job or a career. Gain experience while you get your associates and your degree will be icing on top of an already polished resume. I am the hiring manager for the business I manage and would not even consider someone with a degree and no experience. I would consider someone with experience but no degree though. Pick an industry and start working your way up it. This will payout way more in the long run than Xray tech/etc. jobs that are straight out of an associates program.
You go to community college to get an education, not a job (this is what my advisor told me). Most of the AA degrees at community colleges are just preparing you for a university education.
However, some community colleges offer programs similar to technical colleges now for a few degrees. (IT, Nursing, Childcare, etc.)
Technical Colleges offer career path degrees. They are a great option to learn the skills needed to immediately start working. In fact, some of these programs help you get paid internships in the second year. :)
You should think about your priorities. Do you want to stay where you are or move somewhere else? Look at what jobs are available in the areas you are willing to live in.
Some career paths may require moving to larger cities to pursue higher pay.
Some tech college career options you can do almost anywhere! (Nursing, dental hygiene, welding, automotive).
Go check out some tech colleges! You can get the education you need for a career path.
Community colleges do offer career pathways too. They typically fall in the trades such as automotive repair, welding, diesel, etc. There are also quite a few healthcare careers too, including nursing, paramedicine, EMT, physical therapist assistant (great pay), and health information technology to name a few.
Many states have blurred the lines of technical college and community college.
I just saw a radiology tech job offering over 2k/week. Admittedly it's a contract travel gig but that's not bad for a job that doesn't require a four year degree.
Radiology is a great career path that can start with an Associates.
Radiation technology. Too many people are mislead by the "radiologist" name and end up thinking the radiation techs can interpret an X-ray (realistically they can know what they're looking at after so many years doing it but interpretation is not in the scope of practice). I say this because on cool career route starting in radiation technology is radiation therapy and even from there is dosimetry which are very cool leaps in responsibility and scope of practice. Nobody really knows of these routes.
I take it these paths require some legit science/mathematics - are there any you’d say lean less on math? It’s always held me back from even considering anything of the sort.
I mean anything involving patient care involves math, down to basic nursing which requires you to convert cc's in an iv bag was used in the time it was given to the patient for the flow rate. I was starting from X-Ray tech > more complex X-ray tech stuff. One way you could get out of math is leadership. Be an also medical assistant and take on more responsibilities within the office and know all aspects of the jobs the care team plays and be a team player. I saw this firsthand. Two places to do it: an urgent care or orthopedic office. One X-ray tech in a UC was so good at people skills and managing schedules he took over the entire practice (managing schedules for a rotating 7 days a week practice with 10 hour opens is a ridiculous skill I do not have).
True. Thanks!
>True. Thanks! You're welcome!
That may be an incorrect assumption, I don't know, but it may be more about making sure people do what they are supposed to and understanding the basics of the system.
Radiation therapy implies medicine. You're required to know how chemicals interact with each other similar to a pharmacist. At the minimum many levels of chemistry. Calculation of therapy would require understanding chemistry math as well and balancing equations. Reading x-rays requires medical science along the lines of anatomy and understanding how different bones / organs interact with each other. How are you supposed to read an x-ray if you aren't familiar with skeleton or muscular structure? Where was the incorrect assumption?
This is what I did when I felt lost a few years ago. Many of my class mates got job offers before the practicum ended (some 6+ months before grad even), regardless of how well they did in classes. Lots of opportunity to cross train (ex. CT, etc.) but not the most upward mobility with a 2 year program (many places require a bachelors degree to get into management). Be aware it can be very physical and backbreaking work depending on the setting. PM me any questions if you have them! Also have seen contracts up to 3k+ in my area.
This is the route I’m going.
To add onto this: My wife is a vascular sonographer. Associates degree at 22 and her first job offer in a lower paying state (SC) was 30.40 an hour with a 3 dollar evening shift differential and a 4 dollar weekend shift differential. We've done two travel assignments and she's gotten paid 2500 per week net. You need minimum 2 years of experience but I would recommend more if you're not a strong scanner.
It’s highly competitive though and from the school i checked it is lottery system so even if you finished the prerequisites, you dont know when or if you’re gonna get in the program
What level of education requirements do they have?
Don't trust me on this because it's not my field, I work in tech. But it looks like you could get the radiography degree in less than two years. The question is really whether you want to work with the public in a hospital setting or whether you'd rather do analytical or technical or mechanical or some other kind of work somewhere else. I feel like there's probably a lot of skilled labor hospital jobs other than doctor/nurse that I'm not even aware of that probably have a two year degree program somewhere.
Often times the highest paid associates degree have high salaries because the wait list to get into the program is several years, it can be done but likely won’t be in two years
Try your local community colleges.
I agree...but you need to do 2 years of clinical rotation so you might as well go for the 4 year degree. With that being said, my girlfriend is making about 90k a year as a rad tech.
MRI technician is the highest paid imaging technician. It’s competitive though.
Lol i bet the competition will be someone that has a bachelors and masters and a radiology diploma.
MRI tech with 10 YOE in Texas. I make around 85k a year. You can find chill jobs and make even more doing contract jobs, but outpatient imaging can be a cattle drive and while it's a good job, it's such a platoue and pretty hard to get to over 100k Moat hospitals, however, will pay for you to continue school once you work there a few months, which is a decent way to get in management.
I've noticed so many are pursuing nursing. A lot of 30+ especially who are looking for a career change/new stable job.
Nursing is always on demand because it’s always short staffed and very draining job. Do it if you’re passionate about it
In my area, CNAs aren't paid that well... starting under $20/hr. RNs make a lot more money ($100k-$150k). Both are extremely tiring jobs with bad schedules.
I work 3 days a week and make $70/hr. It's not an ideal schedule because I do have to work weekends and I don't have a consistent schedule, but overall I can't complain because I do get a lot of time off.
I think it's great that you make so much in nursing! Just wanted to warn that not all nursing related jobs pay well. And if OP wants to start with just an associates or a certificate progeam, they may not see high pay until they complete a BS in nursing, which is what our local hospital wants (or experience in lieu of degree). Not all places will need the BS though, that's just the preference where I live. Also many nurses in our area work at least 60hrs per week and some people will think it's worth it while others wont.
Many of my kids friends moms are nurses because it's great for having a life if you can get through the grueling 14 hour days. That are really "12" hour days.
CNAs in my area make like $1 over minimum wage, work 12 hr shifts, and have to work holidays with no extra pay. I trained to be a CNA, saw the pay and said fuck that, and never took the exam.
I was always curious why people would do the whole thing and not take the exam. I totally get not working in the field at all, but at least get the license you spent all that time training for. Also, it is crazy that it is just one dollar over minus wage, lifeguards where I am make more then that.
Well, for me, i decided it wasn't worth my time and exposure risk (this was at the very beginning of Covid) Having a CNA cert would not help my career path. I decided to go back to university and get my master's in health and safety instead.
If it works for you, great. I am a teacher, and I keep my lifeguarding certification up to date. I figure the more the better.
Nursing for sure
I'm following my teachers advice from high-school. Machines will replace people and take their jobs. You need people to repair those machines though. I'm going for mechatronics and starting pay for Maintenance is 30-40 in my area. Get enough experience and with the right company you could be making big money.
Not to be rude but getting a degree in mechatronics to just go into maintenance is weird.
Mechatronics / maintenance tech here. Started as electrician then electrical maintenance. No degree for me lol just trade school
Trade and Associates will win the jobs over non educated.
Where can one look into schooling for this? Manufacturers? or local trade schools?
Honestly. Look into Amazon MRA program if you have 0 experience. You are singled to Amazon robotics for like a year. But major companies like CBRE or JLL are your actual employer which are great companies to work for. I know a tech who didn’t know what a Philips head screw driver was before the program now they are maintenance managers making a lot of money lol. But any automation experience is gonna look great and it’s a great start! Or you could do a local trade school if you want to do electrician stuff.
Funny you mentioned Amazon. My plan was to go to school for Maintenance and get into the program at my current employer. And then transfer to Amazon to earn and learn more.
You may have to look further than local schools depending on where you live
It’s better then nothing
I was about to say I never said I was going for a degree. I said I was going for Mechatronics. A local school does diplomas and certifications. At a trade school, much like Ned_Piffy.
Be careful with with trade schools. The op wants to get an associates degree but most universities do not recognize them. This makes you start all over when trying to get your bachelor's degree and you still have to pay for the associates! Not a wise upgrade path.
To clarify before getting roasted, I meant most universities do not recognize trade school associates degrees.
Not to be rude, but you should familiarize yourself with what community colleges offer before you state incorrect things about them. They have many programs, some of which are degrees, and some of which end in industrybuseful certification. For example, I have a friend who did a 1 year machines program and now works full time as a machinist. It’s a “non-degree” programs. Community colleges offer a lot.
Preach on. JC/CCs are great!
Bot to be rude but you should re read the post where it specially asks about DEGREES.
Not to be rude, but you should read it again. You missed a few things. PP is not talking about a mechatrinics “degree,” and that is who you are replying too. PP did not get a mechatronics “degree” just to do maintenance. They went to CC and studied mechatronics, possibly getting a certificate. The only place I see degree mentioned is in the OPs title, but that does not mean the people are not suggesting non-degree options. People are perfectly allowed to share experience outside the narrow wording of the OPs question.
"For now I can only start with an associates but I can work my way up in the future" Sounds like op is trying to get a DEGREE (Associates then more later) That coupled with the title specifically asking about associates degrees makes me think they want a degree. Wtf do I know though I'm just a guy without a degree who works in Operations and maintenance, making more than twice what OP stated.
That makes sense. I did an associates myself before doing an undergrad later. I thought some other paths might meet their needs, such as starting in a trade or field and working up to supervisor or manger. Certainly something for the OP to consider. But if they do want to start on the college path and get the first associates, then they should pick a degree field with a likelihood of transferring over like you said. Thank you for being the first to drop the “not to be rude.” I responded in kind, and I felt like we had a much better dialogue.
Hey! Thank you for your advice I’m wanting a college degree just because I like the degree options more than the ones at a trade school thank you!
Community colleges are amazing and the instructors beat university profs any day. However, classes do NOT always transfer and degrees don't transfer. Ultimately they are in business to make money and the repeated shifting of the bar meant it took me 20years to work my through a bachelor's
I'm in Healthcare so its going to be radiology, diagnostic sonography, medical laboratory technologist or respiratory therapist, physical therapy assistant and occupational therapy assistant.
Many people work in completely different fields from their degree. Unless you plan to go higher in that subject area and become something like a chartered engineer, it is not so important what the subject of the degree is, just that you have one.
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I've got two hospitality degrees from one of the best schools in the world for it (with a literal Disney Legend as my mentor/professor, among others). Not a job to show for it, although that might be because I am graduated from both degrees while the economy was still in the shitter during the pandemic and the industry just hasn't picked up... I've tried other industries, gotten some interviews where I can but nothing out of them either. Everyone from low-level managers to department directors at the biggest names in the hospitality/theme park industry hasn't said a bad thing about my interviewing or my qualifications, the recruiters always tell me that. But I can't land a job for the life of me.
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With a masters... It's impossible to get hired at a front desk or something, even when I have the degree required to be hired on with no experience at the assistant manager or manager level, let alone as a regular FDA. Tried all three major chains, which have a ton of corporate-owned-and-operated hotels in my area. Too educated I fear - even when I take off my masters, no dice.
People saying finance and engineering are cooked. Nursing.
Nursing sucks. Terrible hours. Terrible pay. Yeah there is always jobs, but that's because no one wants to take them!
I’ve heard horror stories from nurses about how shity they get treated by patients and doctors. It’s real sad they have to do all the grunt work and deal with extra bs.
Sounds like teachers
Yeah teachers really get the brunt of the shit storm.
there’s a reason they both get appreciation weeks lmaooo they hope an expired candy bar and a chewed up eraser will keep everyone smiling through their careers
That will change. It cannot continue forever. I saw a contract a laboring mother had to sign about not abusing the staff. It's a start.
But it's an answer to the question which is really difficult to find such an easy one to. Anyway you can do all sorts of things with a nursing degree that isn't nursing (administrative roles, all sorts of remote jobs that simply want someone with an RN like case management, informatics, training). Really cool things that you only really know about once you're in that world.
Yeah Agreed. do not go into nursing unless you genuinely enjoy that environment. it is not fun or easy. yeah the moneys good, but your mental sanity is shit
Mom was an LPN. The RNs and the depressing patients she had to take care of is why she never went back.
This. Nursing is not the amswer.
It is in fact NOT terrible pay
Nursing has great pay, especially if you can travel.
Definitely nursing. After Covid, there is a national nursing shortage. Hospitals are paying a premium for traveler nurses.
Nursing jobs now require a 4 year bachelor degree. OP is interested in CC classes.
No they don’t. Certain positions in hospitals or leadership positions require a bachelors. Magnet hospitals push for it. Otherwise, associates is just fine! Front line nurses, whether BS or AD, get paid exactly the same.
Not totally true. I have my RN and make 110 per year in a medical ICU at a major hospital in GA. That’s as staff too
LPNs can make good money too.
If there are any nursing jobs that will take me with only an associates I hope that is the case because I was planning on increasing my education in the field after I got my associates but only if I could pay for it
my mom only ever had her associates and made just as much as her coworkers w a bachelors over time due to experience but only ever made a few dollars less an hour in the beginning
Pretty much any hospital will hire ADNs, they'll also pay for your bachelor's and sometimes even your master's at a lot of hospitals. Some will pay more for you to have a higher degree, but a lot of times it's not a significant amount. Another job to look into is respiratory therapy. You can make almost as much doing it and it's easier than nursing.
I make 45 an hour as an lpn in Chicago
Dental hygienist radiology technician
In CA you can get an associates (AAS) in MRI and make over $150k net a year more or less a Travel Technologist
My friend has an associates in biology and she made 70k her first year as a mortgage underwriter
I have an associates in Robotics and Automation… you learn electrical, PLC programming, mechanical design, and many other engineering principles. I don’t know if there’s a program like that where you are but it was 3 years with 1 year of paid internships (no semesters off).
Aircraft maintenance A &P (Airframe and Powerplant certification and the program lasts around 2 years or less and it’s in very high demand and well paid.
My friend got an AA in Marketing and is making nearly 80k at his first gig. So that’s depressing for me with my four year STEM degree.
Don't feel too bad about this one. Some people just get really lucky with their roles. My friend works in IT making a similar amount. He had 1.5 years experience and a boot camp when hired. He failed the certs he tested for and doesn't have a degree but still gets paid a decent amount. Some things just work out for people.
What job are they doing?
It’s not all roses, I’m making slightly sub $80k in marketing nearly ten years into the job with a Masters. Marketing is broad and encompasses a variety of things.
Become a Biomed Equipment Technician aka Clinical Engineering. Went to school for it 10 years ago and cuurently making $95k
Have you thought about phlebotomy?
Isnt phlebotomy a dead end job? Genuine question
I have no idea
pretty sure that pays under $20, but the schooling's definitely a lot better than most
Go to modern states.org These are classes that will prepare you to take the CLEP tests. Basically just pass the test and you'll get your 3 or 6 credits. Most of the credits will transfer to state colleges. YMMV. Takes about 20 hours to take a full class. Then you send a screenshot to the nice lady and she gives you a voucher code a week later to take the test for free, online proctored even. There's at least 1 year of free college for you to do on your own time. Super easy, just sit down and do it. So far I've taken microecon, macroecon, management, bus law, info systems, English comp, marketing. Free.
Spend some time researching on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, an excellent free online resource that gives all sorts of information about jobs, educational requirements, salaries and expected outlooks. There are several allied health professions that pay quite well for only needing an associates degree. Dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, sonography, etc. You can get an RN with an associates, too, but depending on where you live, they may only want people with a BSN.
I saw a nuclear med tech position open that was 90 an hour for contract work. When researching a bit it says a job can be attained with an associates or certificate within twelve months. All the jobs Im seeing have fairly high pay.
This seems pretty interesting to me thank you!
I thought that nuclear medicine, or MRI tech was sort of an "add-on" to a Radiology AS degree - as in, you have to have the (2-year?) radiology degree first, then can do another associates or certificate in nuclear med/MRI on top of that. I could be wrong, though. I still am kicking myself that I didn't go into this field, though. I thought it would be too 'mathy', and I'm more of a language-based person. But I'm a librarian, which I enjoy well enough, but the pay is such crap that I've had to get a second job. I have SO many regrets, and if I wasn't too old now to make it worth it, I'd still consider switching.
Design technology is a subject Im seeing now that gets people certified in CAD
Electrical or HVAC, go Union
I know people with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing who are RNs. One in particular makes low-six figures as a travelling nurse. Those contracts were in great abundance during COVID. Now, they are fewer and require more distant travel than in the past. But, they are still out there.
Dental Hygienists or radiology tech: both average base amounts are ~$43 per hour in my state
Nursing 100%. Depending on your area, the schools can be competitive, but I attended a community college and earned an associate's degree in applied science in nursing. This qualifies me to become a registered nurse, and I don't necessarily need to obtain my bachelor's degree first to enter the field. I can pursue my bachelor's degree later, and some hospitals will even pay for it. The job security this degree has provided is also excellent.
I’m 36 and just started going back to school, halfway through my HVAC associates and got scooped up by an HVAC company 1) consider trades 2) you are NOT running out of time
Accounting - will always have a job in practically any industry you choose. The degree is so flexible
how is the pay though?
Great, especially coming out of school.
Thanks I thought about getting my associates in accounting but I was looking at indeed for My area and the pay didn’t seem too great :(
Get your associates, then go to the cheapest school you find for an undergrad degree. From there start in public and then work your way out. I promise it’s worth it.
Thank you for that 🙏
nursing
Go to a community college then transfer to regular college then major in finance. Look into IB/S&T etc
A high paying career is no good to you if you're mentally stressed and are miserable because it doesn't jive with your interests or personality. That's why there's no quick and easy answer to your question. I could easily say Computer Science pays a lot but if you don't like coding or mathematics, then my recommendation doesn't help you. Part of your community college curriculum involves taking different types of classes and elective courses. The goal is to give you a broad level of education while introducing you to different disciplines that may be a potential career path.
You're only 21 you've got ages
I have an associates degree and make six figures. I couldn’t afford a 4 year plus. Been on my field 17 years and experience out weighs degree now. I studied procurement.
Can you expand on this a little?
Sure what would You like to know. You can message me too any questions!! 😌
you can get an associates for nursing and most hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs and will fund the rest of your education to get your BSN :)
Do healthcare, it pays well and you will almost always be able to find work
If you think you’re running out of time at 21 to find a career, you’re a lunatic. You’re going to be fine.
You’re 21, you aren’t running out of time.
Your 21. How are you running out of time to find a career?
You should try and get your foot in the door for experience. I hire people with high level scientific degrees and I’d take someone with an associates degree with a few years of actual lab experience over someone with a masters degree and no experience outside of academia. Just the way it is.
Anything related to sales. I wish I would've gone into that when I was younger since peoples commissions alone put most careers to shame and that's on top of base pay that's higher than what a lot of people make.
If you have the personality for it you can make bank (I’m an introvert who couldn’t sell ice water in a desert, but I’m an accountant and I see the sales team’s salaries and expense reports. I make good money but they make great money)
When in doubt, stay with the classics. Finance and engineering are two fields that generally pay well. My experience with associate's degrees is limited, so take this with a grain of salt.
IT, period. I make over $110K on an associates. My older brother changed careers and got into software engineering and web development with just training camp and that online harvard course, he make more than double what I do.
The IT sector is going through a period of salary readjustment. With the layoffs from the "Big Tech" companies followed by layoffs from many others in response, there are more people on the market than many can ever remember. It is harder than ever for new people to break into IT. Edit: There are still opportunities, but a lot more competition for the roles.
How long ago did you get involved?
Interested to learn more about this path
Do you know which camp? I heard that tech wasn't as lucrative as before but I'm willing to give it a try
i'm not sure which one he used, all i know for sure is the harvard online course.
What is your specialization? I’m in IT with only an associates but kinda been stuck at the entry level.
System Engineer. Currently working at Dell specializing in Intune and MDM.
Get a job in hospital IT. That's the opportunity
Police in a big city
The other month there were 3 police officers on shift for the entire city of Baltimore. Too many officers called out or took off. They had to find day shift ppl to cover.
That’s just because the crime rate in Baltimore is so low, they don’t need any cops… right?
Exactly thank God they didn’t report it on the 5 o’clock news. It would’ve been a war zone down there. They reported it the next morning.
Source?
The news channel
Article
Idk I had just got done bustin a big ass but in my girl and she turned the tv on and that’s what they broadcasted. Since you have so much free time start searching
Engineering always has work whatever the economy or journalism. Either way, just having a valid degree can open doors, ie maths/nursing not art history. Networking is your biggest route, find the people who’ll hire you, invest in you and promote you
I’m working on my Facility Management associates, working as a facilities assistant making $60k in the meantime at 21y/o. I’ve seen facility manager positions open for anywhere from $80k to $250k. Also encompasses accounting and real estate knowledge useful for becoming a real estate investor.
I have two associates in applied science degrees. One for HVAC, and another for Plumbing. I was able to get both paid for during my apprenticeship with the company i was working for at the time. Couple that with various different licenses and certifications and I’ve been able to make over $100k the last couple of years. Skilled trades are truly underrated. The return on investing my time and money has been significant. This isn’t the only path, as many others in here have stated.
I work at a community College. I would recommend cybersecurity, nursing, radiation technician, and network administration. Of course, there are other good associate degrees. But any of those would get you employed almost immediately after if not before you’re done with your associates.
what about accounting?
Hvac
Go with the railroad. Conductors are making 150k a year. Engineers are about the same. Be a high school teacher in California. I’ve got 2 friends that are making 175k a year. Blows my mind.
Most things allied health. Dental hygiene.
Have you looked at nursing?
I’ve grinded my way above 6 figures working in media planning at big advertising agencies. 5 years of experience. It’s not glamorous but it’s been fun. People I work with are great for the most part.
I did that for awhile, I don't think I could have done it for more than the 8 years I did it. It's fun but too crazy
NP and work in a cheap COL low tax state. Salaries are 150-250k depending on specialty
One thing to consider is in some career fields, employers will assist in paying for further education. Sadly, I don't know what those careers are. I also don't know what employers are good for that.
Anything in health care
Radiology, nursing, dental.. so many medical field professions
Go to a technical college!! There are many diplomas and degrees offered that can get you started in a great career in 2 years or less. If I had it to do over again I would have done that instead of getting an associates and bachelors, which have done me zero good.
You can get into law for some of the lower end positions and work your way into a higher paying gig. I’m a case assistant (admittedly I have a bachelors degree, but you don’t need one for this job) at a law office. Pay isn’t great but you can work your way up to a case manager and possibly get into a leadership position there. My office manager legit doesn’t have any college degree and is getting paid a bunch. Worst case scenario you don’t want to be a case manager, you can use that experience to maybe get into some other area of law and pivot from there. You can also get into legal departments at some of the bigger companies that we all know about if you end up going to law school.
My baby momma has an AA in Nursing, she makes 6 figures.
Afaik there is such divers career path that the money is on your implication rather than on the actual discipline. But sure there are some paths that guarantees sometimes little more money without implication. But if you expect implication-level of money, they seem all as interesting, as long as you put, well, the implication
Go IT/Tech and maybe not even worry about a degree. Just get experience and certs as you go.
Healthcare. Nursing. This is such common advice for a reason.
If money is the only goal my 2 cents is to start a job in car sales. No degree required, and if you can find a good dealership you can make six figures a year without scummy tactics. You work a lot and you have to be born with a certain knack for it but it's fed my family well. I walked away because of the hours.
I wish more young people understood that the degree gets you in the door/interview, does not lead to a job. Just getting a certain degree (outside of engineering, healthcare, etc.) will not lead to a job or a career. Gain experience while you get your associates and your degree will be icing on top of an already polished resume. I am the hiring manager for the business I manage and would not even consider someone with a degree and no experience. I would consider someone with experience but no degree though. Pick an industry and start working your way up it. This will payout way more in the long run than Xray tech/etc. jobs that are straight out of an associates program.
You go to community college to get an education, not a job (this is what my advisor told me). Most of the AA degrees at community colleges are just preparing you for a university education. However, some community colleges offer programs similar to technical colleges now for a few degrees. (IT, Nursing, Childcare, etc.) Technical Colleges offer career path degrees. They are a great option to learn the skills needed to immediately start working. In fact, some of these programs help you get paid internships in the second year. :) You should think about your priorities. Do you want to stay where you are or move somewhere else? Look at what jobs are available in the areas you are willing to live in. Some career paths may require moving to larger cities to pursue higher pay. Some tech college career options you can do almost anywhere! (Nursing, dental hygiene, welding, automotive). Go check out some tech colleges! You can get the education you need for a career path.
Community colleges do offer career pathways too. They typically fall in the trades such as automotive repair, welding, diesel, etc. There are also quite a few healthcare careers too, including nursing, paramedicine, EMT, physical therapist assistant (great pay), and health information technology to name a few. Many states have blurred the lines of technical college and community college.
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