15 Awesome Jobs for Associate’s Degree Holders

Pursuing an associate's degree is an economical way to ensure a promising future. For starters, you won't accumulate massive amounts of debt that'll adversely affect your financial future due to the rising cost of tuition. Most importantly, it'll enable you to secure a great job and fulfilling career that'll produce a bounty of rewards during your lifetime. The following 15 jobs are proof of that, providing all the perks bachelor's degree holders expect after putting in two additional years of academic work. (All salary information is courtesy of PayScale, and figures pertain to workers with 10 to 19 years of experience. All job projections are courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

1. Cardiovascular Technologist, $59,500 – $90,731: The lifesaving work performed by cardiologists wouldn't be possible without their trusty cardiovascular technologists. By providing information and images from echocardiograms, blood vessel studies and stress tests, they help prevent and treat heart attacks, strokes and other issues of the heart and its accompanying vessels. They specialize in different areas, including invasive cardiology, noninvasive technology and echocardiography. Thanks to the aging population and increased prevalence of heart disease, cardiovascular technologists will be in high demand from 2008 to 2018, as employment will grow 24 percent.
2. Forensic Science Technician, $48,279 – $86,474: Criminal investigations require the careful collection, identification, classification and analysis from trained forensic science technicians. Testing items such as hair and fiber, they enable the team of investigators to develop hypotheses for their cases. On many occasions, they're asked to testify as expert witnesses during trials. Employment for all science technicians is expected to increase by 12 percent from 2008 to 2018.
3. Radiation Therapist, $61,042 – $82,733: The ongoing fight against cancer relies on the expertise of radiation therapists, who use advanced radiation therapy equipment, such as the linear accelerator, to administer treatment. They work closely with doctors to design an appropriate course of action in a patient's battle and monitor their progress through it all. Radiation therapists must be organized, pay close attention to detail and genuinely care about the well-being of others. From 2008 to 2018, the occupation is expected to see 27 percent growth.
4. Geological and Petroleum Technician, $52,080 – $81,389: Assisting petroleum engineers and other workers in the oil and gas industry, geological and petroleum technicians study the mineral and element characteristics of geological samples. Their ultimate goal, in many cases, is to find sources of oil and natural gas. Much of their work is performed in labs where they sometimes have to operate complex equipment. Employment for all science technicians is expected to grow by 12 percent from 2008 to 2018.
5. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, $54,640 – $74,403: A sonogram not only enables the sonographer to monitor the health of a fetus, but it also enables them to monitor the condition of vital organs such as the heart and kidneys. With their knowledge of pathology and anatomy, they can interpret the information they've obtained in the company of a physician. Like the other jobs listed in the medical field, the demand for diagnostic medical sonographers remains healthy. Employment is expected to increase by 18 percent from 2008 to 2018.
6. Nuclear Medicine Technologist, $59,613 – $72,719: Nuclear Medicine Technologists uncover the function of organs or tissues by administering drugs that emit radiation, allowing equipment to take images of the areas. It's an efficient and effective way for doctors to diagnose problems and determine the proper treatments. Technologists are familiar with the effects of radiation, and therefore take close care when performing their jobs. From 2008 to 2018, 15 percent employment growth is expected, though competition will be high because of the amount of trained nuclear medicine technologists.
7. Police Officer, $41,805 – $71,190: For those who want to devote their lives to serving and protecting, a career as a police officer is most appealing. Although the specificity of their duties may vary depending on whether they work for the local, state or federal government, they devote much of their time to catching suspects and documenting their experiences for court use. A good police officer must possess courage and must be devoted to the location in which they work. They are invaluable, and because of that, they'll always be needed. Employment growth of 10 percent is expected from 2008 to 2018 — aspiring officers with the most training will have the easiest time finding jobs. Continued