What can i do with a computer science associates degree

You don’t need a four-year degree to land a lucrative tech job.

What can i do with a computer science associates degree

These tech jobs pay around $80,000 annually.

According to estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information technology jobs are projected to grow by 12% from 2018 to 2028—much faster than the average for all occupations. Moreover, the median annual wage for these jobs was $86,320 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640. Surprisingly, you don’t need to have a four-year degree to succeed in this lucrative field. The highest-paying associate degree jobs in technology can earn you around $80,000 per year.

Salary will be affected by your level of experience, specialty, and employment location. For example, a senior data scientist salary in Allen, Texas, is 2% higher than the national average; an electronics technician salary in Gurnee, Illinois, is 20% higher than the national average; and a front-end developer salary in Bedford, Massachusetts, is 7% higher than the national average.

According to Monster data and PayScale data, these are among the best associate degree jobs you can get in technology.

Computer science or computer engineering

Computer science students design, develop, test, and produce computers and their subsystems. Computer engineering students study software, hardware, networking, and security.

The average salary for early-career workers with an associate degree in computer science or computer engineering is $40,600 per year, with a projected mid-career salary of $83,700 annually.

Computer-science or computer-engineering degree holders typically pursue one of these jobs:

  • Computer programmer
  • Computer support specialist
  • Systems analyst
  • Software engineer
  • Software developer
  • Mobile application developer
  • Data engineer
  • Data scientist
  • Machine learning engineer

Find more computer science jobs or computer engineering jobs on Monster.

Instrumentation technology

Instrumentation technology students learn how to install, test, calibrate, and maintain highly complex devices or equipment that are used in the automation of industrial processes in medicine, communications, navigation, power generation, oil refineries, chemical plants, food processing, cosmetics, building environmental control, and other fields.

Early-career professionals with an associate degree in instrumentation technology earn an average salary of $46,700 per year, with a projected mid-career salary of $81,700 annually.

Instrumentation-technology degree holders typically pursue jobs in one of the following:

  • Electrical instrumentation technician
  • Electronics technician
  • Electronics repairer
  • Engineering technician
  • Electrical engineer

Find more instrumentation technology jobs on Monster.

Biomedical engineering technology

Biomedical engineering technology students study the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology in order to advance health care treatment by improving or building machines that solve medical problems.

The average salary for early-career professionals with an associate degree in biomedical engineering technology is $47,400 annually, with a projected mid-career salary of $80,700 per year.

Typically, biomedical engineering-technology degree holders pursue one of these occupations:

  • Biomedical equipment technician
  • Biomedical engineer
  • Rehabilitation engineer
  • Radiology equipment specialist
  • Laboratory equipment specialist
  • Medical equipment manufacturing technician
  • Medical equipment repair technician

Find more biomedical engineering technology jobs on Monster.

Network engineering

Network engineering students learn how to design, implement, and troubleshoot networking technologies, such as routing, cryptographic tunneling, firewalls, and others. In addition, they study how to maintain the connectivity of a network’s data, voice, calls, videos, and wireless network services.

Network engineers earn a median salary of $113,893 per year, with highest-paid professionals earning a median of $145,374 annually.

Network-engineering degree holders typically pursue one of these occupations:

  • Network technician
  • Network engineer
  • Network analyst
  • Wireless network engineer
  • Network security engineer
  • Network systems administrator
  • Network manager

Find more network engineering jobs on Monster.

Web development

Web development students study the behind-the-scenes code and programming of Websites and Web-based services. They gain knowledge of interface design, Web applications such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or IBM’s DB2.

Early-career professionals with an associate degree in web development earn an average annual starting salary of $46,600, with mid-career professionals taking home an average of $77,200 per year.

Web-development degree holders typically enter one of these occupations:

  • Web designer
  • Front-end developer
  • Back-end developer
  • Full-stack developer
  • Software developer
  • Computer programmer
  • Database administrator
  • UX/UI designer
  • Digital marketer
  • SEO specialist

Find more web developer jobs on Monster.

A two-year degree takes you far in this field, but the real challenge is getting your talents in front of hiring managers. Want some help with that? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of tech jobs that interest you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads. Tech recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Let us help you kick-start a high-speed job search today.

Is an associate's degree in computer science worth it?

Yes, earning an associate's degree in computer science is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% job growth in computer and information technology occupations for the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations.

Should I get an Associates or Bachelors in computer science?

If you hold a bachelor's degree in computer science, you will find that you have a wider field of job opportunities which include software developer, systems analyst, and database administrator. As a general rule of thumb, those holding an associate degree vs a bachelor degree earn less.

What is the highest paying job with an associates degree?

What Are the Highest-Paying Associate Degrees?.
Radiation Therapy. ... .
Nuclear Technology. ... .
Nuclear Medicine. ... .
Dental Hygiene. ... .
Web Development. ... .
Diagnostic Medical Sonography. ... .
Aerospace Engineering. ... .
Electrical Engineering..