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Madison Hoff
- Dental hygienist is one job that pays above the median wage and is projected to see job growth over a decade.
- That job also typically only needs an associate's degree, unlike dentists or orthodontists.
- Insider looked at growing jobs that pay decently and only need an associate's degree.
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Dental hygienist, a job that typically only needs an associate's degree for entry, is projected to see job growth of 19,000 between 2021 to 2031, according to employment projection data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
With a median annual pay of $77,810, this job also pays above the median annual wage for all jobs in the US, which is $45,760.
Unlike dentists or orthodontists — which are actually projected to see smaller increases in employment from 2021 to 2031 compared to dental hygienists — a dental hygienist typically doesn't need a doctoral or professional degree for entry. They typically only need an associate's degree.
Insider recently analyzed jobs that pay above the median annual wage for all occupations in the US and that also have some kind of job growth over 10 years, from 2021 to 2031. After ranking our list of high-paying, growing jobs based on the geometric mean of projected job growth from 2021 to 2031 and median annual wages, we wanted to just look at the set of jobs that make the top of the list when only looking at those that typically need an associate's degree.
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With this methodology, paralegals and legal assistants made the top of this list. This job has a typical pay of $56,230 and is projected to grow by 49,900 from 2021 to 2031.
The following are 15 occupations that typically only need an associate's degree for entry, that pay above the median annual pay, and are projected to see future job growth.
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15. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Employment in 2021: 64,200
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,100
Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,220
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14. Chemical technicians
Employment in 2021: 60,400
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,990
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13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Employment in 2021: 58,100
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,570
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12. Funeral home managers
Employment in 2021: 40,700
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 2,800
Median annual wage in May 2021: $74,000
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11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Employment in 2021: 41,200
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 3,000
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,360
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10. Health information technologists and medical registrars
Employment in 2021: 39,900
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 7,000
Median annual wage in May 2021: $55,560
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9. Medical equipment repairers
Employment in 2021: 59,100
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 10,000
Median annual wage in May 2021: $49,910
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8. Occupational therapy assistants
Employment in 2021: 43,400
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 11,000
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,730
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7. Radiologic technologists and technicians
Employment in 2021: 222,800
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 14,100
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,370
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6. Computer network support specialists
Employment in 2021: 185,500
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 13,800
Median annual wage in May 2021: $62,760
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5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
Employment in 2021: 82,300
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 12,100
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,740
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4. Respiratory therapists
Employment in 2021: 135,800
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 18,400
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,830
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3. Dental hygienists
Employment in 2021: 214,000
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 19,000
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,810
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2. Physical therapist assistants
Employment in 2021: 96,500
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 25,600
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,180
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1. Paralegals and legal assistants
Employment in 2021: 352,800
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 49,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $56,230
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