What Is the Job Outlook for Online Associate Degree Graduates?
Although an associate degree may open some doors for graduates, some jobs require a bachelor’s degree. For example, in human resources, an associate degree holder may be qualified for an entry-level post such as a human resources assistant or administrator. In contrast, according to Aboud, a bachelor’s degree is more likely to qualify for a human resources generalist or specialist role.
Associate degree holders may also work in various health care professions, such as a nurse or dental hygienist, tech support, and other industries. Preschool teacher and paralegal are two other work options.
Experts suggest that for many businesses, the fact that a degree was achieved online will not be a detriment to a candidate’s prospects of landing a job; however, attitudes differ. A hiring manager may not know that a candidate obtained their degree online if not included in the résumé, but it may come up in discussion.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median average weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers with an associate degree in 2019 were $887, compared to $833 for those with some college finished but no degree and $746 for high school grads. Those with a bachelor’s degree earned a weekly salary of $1,248 on average.