* Field of study: An associate's degree in nursing will command a significantly higher salary than an associate's degree in liberal arts. High-demand technical fields (e.g., certain trades, medical technology) often pay more.
* Specific job: Even within a field, job titles and responsibilities drastically affect pay.
* Location: Salaries vary widely by geographic region; cost of living is a major factor. A job paying $50,000 a year in a rural area might be considered good, while the same salary in a major city might be considered low.
* Experience: Even with an associate's degree, someone with 5 years of experience will likely earn more than someone just starting out.
* Company size and industry: Larger companies and certain industries tend to offer higher salaries.
While you won't find a single definitive number, you can find salary data online. Resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the US (or equivalent agencies in other countries) provide average salary information for various occupations. You'll need to specify the occupation to get a relevant estimate. Websites like Salary.com or Glassdoor also offer salary information based on user input and company data, but remember that these are estimates and can vary.