The Real "Big 4" is Here!

[Life Long Learning]

That's why I always include the caveat about people for who the associate's has a definable value, or who have any doubt about finishing the bachelor's promptly. An associate's is definitely MUCH better than just a high school diploma.

20 Highest Paying Associate Degree Jobs in 2018
https://www.geteducated.com/careers/high...egree-jobs
 
Air Traffic Controller, Salary: $122,410
Radiation Therapist, Salary: $80,160
Nuclear Technician, Salary: $79,140
Radiologic & MRI Technologist, Salary: $58,960
Computer Programmer, Salary: $79,840
Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Salary: $74,350
Dental Hygienist, Salary: $72,910

I've heard through the grapevine by a friend who is an air traffic controller, that you will probably not get hired if you only have an AA.  She said it's a pretty rigorous screening process, it took MONTHS to get through it all, there's a lot of competition, and then after she got hired, she got sent to a very small airport out in podunk, middle of the country USA, and definitely does NOT get paid $122k.  She thinks she will make this in 5 years after she's moved several times to different, progressively larger airports.  Oh, and did I mention that you'll have to move all over the country, probably not to the area of your choice, several times?  So if you're married, hopefully your spouse is up for moving to middle of nowhere Kansas, and trying to find a gig there that pays the bills.  Let's not even mention the stress, and extremely high burnout rate.

Just to say that no, a BA is not a REQUIREMENT for some positions, but chances are high you won't get hired without one.  And that this is certainly not the starting salary for some of these positions.

I bet an AA with a few years as a USAF Air Traffic Control job experience is 10x than a just a BS.