Dental hygienists also perform office management activities.
Associate degrees are those earned from a two-year college. While some opt to continue their education and earn their bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree, others find a two-year degree is sufficient for their desired career. Numerous high-earning job possibilities are available for those with associate degrees.
Computer Specialists
Computer specialists, also called system administrators and help desk technicians, are needed for any office or business that uses computers regularly, such as health care organizations, financial institutions, high schools and colleges and telecommunications businesses. Specialists tutor new employees about new programs as well as provide troubleshooting services for hardware and software. Specialists can solve any computer problem, from glitches to major system crashes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wages of computer specialists were $43,450 in 2008; the highest 10 percent earned more than $70,750.
Dental Hygienists
A dental hygienist works with the dentist in providing oral health care for patients, though the responsibilities of the hygienist range from state to state, according to the American Dental Association. Some of the services a dental hygienist may provide include patient screening procedures, such as screening for oral cancer, taking the blood pressure and pulse of patients, removing plaque (soft deposits) and calculus (hard deposits) from teeth, applying fluorides and sealants to teeth and making impressions of teeth for study casts. According to the BLS, the median annual wages of dental hygienists were $66,570 in 2008; the highest 10 percent earned more than $91,470.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
A diagnostic medical sonographer provides diagnostic patient care services using ultrasound and related diagnostic procedures, according to the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Sonographers operate sonographic equipment, perform examinations with the equipment and relay examination results to patients. Sonographers are also responsible for equipment maintenance, daily sonographic laboratory operations and patient schedule maintenance. According to the BLS, the median annual wages of diagnostic medical sonographers were $61,980 in 2008; the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,950.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists are members of a medical radiation oncology team in a hospital, cancer treatment center or physician's office who treat cancer patients. Therapists use special machinery called linear accelerators to shrink and destroy cancerous tumors in the body. Radiation is occasionally the only therapy used to treat tumors; however, it is generally utilized along with chemotherapy and sometimes surgery. Radiation therapists are also responsible for keeping detailed records of patient treatments including the patient's reaction to treatments. According to the BLS, the median annual wages of radiation therapists were $72,910 in 2008; the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,350.
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