The pay figures in our associate degree ranking describe the middle of each job's market. They are useful for choosing a field, but they are not what most graduates earn in their first year. This guide explains how to read them. The occupations themselves, ranked by pay, are on the high-paying associate degree jobs ranking.
Key Takeaways
- A median is the midpoint: half of workers in a job earn more. For air traffic controllers the BLS median for May 2025 is $148,075, but that is a mid-career figure.
- Entry pay usually sits below the median. Location, employer type, and shift work move starting pay more than the degree title does.
- The credential you earn early decides whether your first year looks like the median or well below it.
- Compare offers on total pay: benefits, overtime, and licensing costs change what you keep.
A median is a midpoint, not a starting salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports median annual pay for each occupation. Half of the workers in that job earn more than the median and half earn less. The median mixes people with decades of experience, specialty credentials, and jobs in high-cost metro areas.
Median pay for nuclear technicians in May 2025 was $110,240. That figure is a fair picture of an established technician. A graduate starting out should expect the lower part of the pay range for the first few years, and should check the entry-level figures for their own state before committing.
What moves pay within a field
Four factors usually matter more than the choice between two similar programs:
- Location. Metro areas and states with large hospital systems, utilities, or airports tend to pay more, but living costs are higher too.
- Employer type. Hospitals, federal agencies, and large clinics often pay more than small practices.
- Shift and overtime. Nights, weekends, and on-call work can raise total pay in healthcare and plant roles.
- Credentials. A certification or specialty often moves a technologist or therapist into a higher pay band.
How to check the number for your area
Start with the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, which lists pay by state and metro area. Then read current job postings from the largest employers near you. Posted ranges are often the most direct evidence of what an employer will pay a new hire.
Finally, check your state licensing board. In licensed fields, a delay in passing the exam means delayed work and delayed pay, which can cost more than a small difference in salary. For the credentials that move pay within each field, see skills and credentials that raise associate degree pay. For what comes after the first job, read career paths after an associate degree, and for where openings are expected, read where associate degree jobs are hiring through 2035.
Net pay is the number you live on
Gross salary is before taxes, insurance premiums, and retirement contributions. Compare offers on net pay and benefits, including paid time off, continuing education funding, and any required equipment or uniform costs. A slightly lower salary with strong benefits can beat a higher salary without them. Before you compare offers with a loan payment in mind, read how to compare student debt with starting pay.
All guides|Source figures: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, unless a section says otherwise.