Radiology salaries among the highest for 2-year degree jobs

February 13, 2013
by Nancy Ryerson, Staff Writer
Good news for rad students: their hard work will likely land them one of the highest paying jobs that require associate's degrees. Four of the top 10 best-paying two-year degree jobs are in radiology, according to a new list from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists.

Radiation therapists ranked in the second spot on the list, bringing in an average of $76,627 per year. Nuclear medicine technologists and nuclear technicians came in fourth and fifth place, respectively, at $69,638 and $68,037 a year. In seventh place, diagnostic medical sonographers earn $65,499 a year.

Though earning potential is high, a survey from earlier this year found that only 57 percent of nuclear medicine students found work after six months. Radiation therapy, however, saw an 86 percent job placement rate between 2011 and 2012, and the field is projected to grow by 20 percent by 2020. The job market for diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow 44 percent between now and 2020, much faster than average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Here's the full top 10 list of the highest paying jobs requiring an associate's degree:

1. Air Traffic Controller - $113,547
2. Radiation Therapist - $76,627
3. Dental Hygienist - $70,408
4. Nuclear Medicine Technologist - $69,638
5. Nuclear Technician - $68,037
6. Registered Nurse - $65,853
7. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer - $65,499
8. Fashion Designer - $63,170
9. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician - $61,547
10. Engineering Technician (except drafters) - $58,698