According to the BLS, an increase in the elderly population will cause the greatest increase in the health care sector between 2008 and 2018. This, in combination with the increasing ingress of technology into health care, is responsible for the burgeoning need for technicians with associate's degrees. Radiation therapists who work at radiation centers of hospital oncology departments and diagnostic medical sonographers who work with diagnostic imaging technology earn between $52,000 and $57,000 annually, according to the BLS. A two-year medical assistant degree that allows candidates to work in administrative and clinical departments of hospitals, health care centers, and physicians' clinics is also a profitable option.
Dental care is fast emerging as a lucrative field for candidates with an associate's degree in dental hygiene. Dental hygienists provide services that include preventive care of teeth, taking dental X-rays and cleaning teeth. Completing an associate's degree program from an accredited school and passing a clinical and written exam is necessary to work as a dental hygienist. Salaries typically are close to $58,000 annually, the BLS reports.
Engineering technicians are highly sought after for their expertise, and they earn salaries of about $50,000 a year, according to the BLS. In the field of communications, information technology and medical monitoring, there is an ongoing need for the development of newer devices. Although the servicing of such devices can be learned through hands-on experience, an associate's degree in engineering technology prepares candidates to contribute better to the process of developing and monitoring such equipment.
As processes in all industries get more automated by the day, there is a growing need for candidates with knowledge of computer operating systems. Setting up such automated systems, monitoring their performance and carrying out regular safety checks require special skills. In the information technology sector, the job of computer assistants involves setting up networks, managing network security issues and providing troubleshooting support. An associate's degree in a computer-related field can command a salary of about $60,000 a year, the BLS reports.