Computer specialists top the list of the 25 highest-paying occupations requiring post-secondary training or an associate's degree, while technicians of various kinds dominate the compensation list, according to a report by the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Download NowTwelve of the 25 highest-paying occupations have "technicians" or "technologists," in their titles, with nuclear technicians (3rd on the list) the highest paid among these. In fact, most of the occupations on the list require technical skills related to engineering, electronics, mathematics, mechanics, or science.
The balance of the list--with a few notable exceptions--consists of occupations in the health care and medical industries, such as dental hygienists (4th on the list), registered nurses (9), diagnostic medical sonographers (10), and respiratory therapists (18).
The few highest-paying occupations that don't fall into the above categories include fashion designers (5), funeral directors (15), and court reporters (24).
The chart below reflects the median hourly and annual wages in 2006 for the highest-paid occupations requiring post-secondary training or an associate's degree.
# |
Occupation |
Median Wages, 2006 |
Hourly |
Annual |
| 1 |
Computer Specialists, All Other |
$32.97 |
$68,600 |
| 2 |
Radiation Therapists |
$31.81 |
$66,200 |
| 3 |
Nuclear Technicians |
$31.49 |
$65,500 |
| 4 |
Dental Hygienists |
$30.19 |
$62,800 |
| 5 |
Fashion Designers |
$30.10 |
$62,600 |
| 6 |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists |
$29.95 |
$62,300 |
| 7 |
Commercial Pilots |
N/A |
$57,500 |
| 8 |
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay |
$27.60 |
$57,400 |
| 9 |
Registered Nurses |
$27.54 |
$57,300 |
| 10 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers |
$27.48 |
$57,200 |
| 11 |
Ship Engineers |
$26.36 |
$54,800 |
| 12 |
Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other |
$26.08 |
$54,200 |
| 13 |
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians |
$25.62 |
$53,300 |
| 14 |
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians |
$24.35 |
$50,600 |
| 15 |
Funeral Directors |
$23.86 |
$49,600 |
| 16 |
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians |
$23.16 |
$48,200 |
| 17 |
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians |
$22.95 |
$47,700 |
| 18 |
Respiratory Therapists |
$22.80 |
$47,400 |
| 19 |
Avionics Technicians |
$22.57 |
$46,900 |
| 20 |
Electrical and Electronics Drafters |
$22.51 |
$46,800 |
| 21 |
Industrial Engineering Technicians |
$22.51 |
$46,800 |
| 22 |
Geological and Petroleum Technicians |
$22.19 |
$46,200 |
| 23 |
Mechanical Engineering Technicians |
$22.04 |
$45,800 |
| 24 |
Court Reporters |
$21.93 |
$45,600 |
| 25 |
Forensic Science Technicians |
$21.79 |
$45,300 |
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