More money, less school? If that's your goal, certain careers and paths of study are for you.
Hot jobs in Georgia that only require an associate degree and still pay top dollar are out there.
Be forewarned, though: Some of the salaries are so appealing you might start dreaming of switching to one of these high-paying fields even if you've already earned a bachelor's or attained higher levels of education.
Here are some of the best options, including what they pay, what you'd be doing at work and how the prospects look through 2026. Based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its Occupational Outlook Handbook, these six jobs in Georgia provide high pay but don't require education beyond an associate degree:
Credit: Contributed by eInsurance.com
Credit: Contributed by eInsurance.com
Work experience in a related field: None
Median national annual wage 2016: $66,130, $31.79 per hour
These designers and creators of websites are responsible for both the style and the technical performance, evaluated based on a website's speed and how much traffic it can handle. The developer's education or background (or both) needs to address design and technical skills. Almost one in six web developers were self-employed in 2016. The job outlook for web developers is forecast to increase by 15 percent between 2016 and 2026, much faster than average.
Work experience in a related occupation: None
Median national annual wage 2016: $79,140, or $38.05 per hour
Most nuclear technicians work in nuclear power plants and have earned an associate degree in nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology, which is followed by extensive on-the-job training. They do work around radiation, typically monitoring radiation levels with instruments including Geiger counters or collecting air or soil samples to test for contamination. Nuclear technicians may also assist physicists, engineers or other professionals in nuclear research.
Paralegals and legal assistants
Work experience in a related field: None
2016 median pay nationwide: $49,500
Paralegals get paid well to perform tasks that support attorneys, like maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research and drafting documents. They usually work full-time and may pull some overtime to meet legal deadlines. The job outlook for paralegals is growing at a faster-than-average rate, with the BLS anticipating a 15 percent increase in employment for the group between 2016 and 2026.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
Work experience in a related occupation: None
2016 annual mean wage in Georgia: $59,43, hourly $28.57
Employees in these positions work closely with engineers in settings that include manufacturing and federal government work sites. People who work as electrical technicians may help design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices or navigational equipment. While the pay-to-education ratio is favorable, employment for these careers is projected to grow just 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations.
Computer network support specialists
Experience in a related field: None
Georgia annual mean wage 2017: $69,740, $33.53 hourly
A network support spot is a reliable springboard to other information technology positions, including jobs as computer systems administrators and software developers. The job outlook for computer network support specialists includes an 11 percent growth in annual jobs between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than average. Many employers take applicants with an associate degree, although some prefer applicants to have a bachelor's.
Work experience in a related field: Less than five years
2016 median pay nationwide: $54,830, $26.36 per hour for workers; $73,830 for directors
Funeral homes and crematories employ workers with associate degrees in funeral services or mortuary science, usually to plan or organize the details of funerals. Long work days are a common drawback of the job description, including evenings and weekends.
