Unemployment Rate: 3.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 29,600 Preschool teachers are trained to teach and care for children from infancy to age 5 — and sometimes older. Requirements to enter this career differ, depending on employer and state standards. Some preschool teachers can start with a high school diploma and coursework in early childhood education, but some employers may prefer further postsecondary schooling and continuing education credits. Learn more about preschool teachers. Children play with building blocks at a pre-kindergarten class at the Al & Sonny Gindi Barkai Yeshivah in Brooklyn, New York, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Unemployment Rate: 2.8 percent
Expected Job Openings: 21,200 These legal workers perform a variety of duties to support lawyers, including organizing files and conducting legal research. Paralegals typically have an associate degree in paralegal studies from a community college although some employers may prefer a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about paralegals. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent
Expected Job Openings: 3,400 These experts monitor the environment, including investigating and preventing pollution and contamination. Some environmental science and protection technicians can get started in the field with an associate degree in environmental health, environmental science, public health or a related course of study. Some jobs may require a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about environmental science and protection technicians. FILE – In this Jan. 20, 2015 file photo, a plume of steam billows from the coal-fired Merrimack Station in Bow, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)
AP Photo/Jim Cole, File
Unemployment Rate: 3.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 1,900 These experts help carry out the plans that environmental engineers have developed. Their duties may include testing and operating equipment, collecting samples and other work. An associate degree in applied engineering technology, environmental engineering technology or a related field is typically required to become an environmental engineering technician. Learn more about environmental engineering technicians. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 4.3 percent
Expected Job Openings: 2,900 Medical equipment repairers set up, maintain and fix medical equipment, such as CAT scanners and MRI machines. To get started in the field, aspiring medical equipment repairers may earn an associate degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Learn more about medical equipment repairers. (Getty Images/Andreas Rentz)
Getty Images/Andreas Rentz
Unemployment Rate: 1.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 17,200 These health care workers are trained to perform medical imaging exams and administer radiation therapy treatments to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Many get started by earning an associate degree, certification and state-specific licensing. Learn more about radiologic technologists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 300 Nuclear medicine technologists have mastered a process that involves injecting small amounts of radioactive material into patients to diagnose certain diseases and illnesses. These workers typically need to earn an associate degree from an accredited nuclear medicine technology program and may need certification and a license, depending on the employer and state. Learn more about nuclear medicine technologists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.8 percent
Expected Job Openings: 17,900 These animal aficionados work under the direction of a licensed veterinarian, handling lab work, assisting with surgeries and tackling other tasks related to animal health care. Veterinary technicians typically need to complete a two-year associate degree and may need to pass various credentialing and licensing hurdles, depending on the state. Learn more about veterinary technicians. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 3,500 MRI technologists operate machines that use magnetic fields and radio waves to take images of patients’ organs and other internal parts. Most MRI technologists earn an associate degree in radiologic technology. Learn more about MRI technologists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 3.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 88,800 These specialists come to the rescue to diagnose and troubleshoot computer problems. Educational requirements vary, depending on the employer and job specifics, but an associate degree in a computer-related field is a competitive starting point. Learn more about computer support specialists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.9 percent
Expected Job Openings: 29,000 Working under the supervision of technologists, clinical laboratory technicians analyze lab work and perform other behind-the-scenes tasks. Technicians typically earn an associate degree in clinical laboratory science. Learn more about clinical laboratory technicians. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 2,300 These medical professionals may need a 12-month certificate or associate degree to get started in radiation therapy, which involves the use of radiation to treat cancer. Learn more about radiation therapists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 11,500 Cardiovascular technologists conduct tests on patients to help diagnose heart-related conditions. One pathway to a job as a cardiovascular technologist is through an associate degree in cardiovascular technology. Learn more about cardiovascular technologists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 31,900 PTAs work with physical therapists to help patients regain movement and mobility after an injury or illness. To enter the field, physical therapist assistants need an associate degree from an accredited program, plus licensing or certification. Learn more about physical therapist assistants. In this Jan. 24, 2017 photo, face transplant recipient Andy Sandness talks with physical therapist Helga Smars, right, during an appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Unemployment Rate: 0.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 14,900 These medical professionals provide care and treatment for patients with heart and lung problems, including those with asthma, chronic bronchitis and sleep apnea. An associate degree is typically necessary for entry into the field while licensing and certification requirements vary by state and specialization. Learn more about respiratory therapists. Senior woman with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with supplemental oxygen as part of the therapy. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent
Expected Job Openings: 37,400 Dental hygienists typically work in dental offices, cleaning teeth and educating patients on how to brush and floss properly. These dental professionals typically have earned an associate degree in dental hygiene. Learn more about dental hygienists. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 3.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 39,500 Web developers build websites, working with software applications or writing code to finish the job. Employers may prefer candidates who’ve earned an associate degree in web design. Learn more about web developers. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 0.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 16,000 These health care specialists use sonography equipment to capture images for a number of medical purposes, from finding out the gender of a baby to imaging tumors. Associate degrees in sonography are available to aspiring diagnostic medical sonographers. Learn more about diagnostic medical sonographers. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Unemployment Rate: 0.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 14,100 OTAs specialize in working with occupational therapists to help patients relearn daily tasks after an injury or illness. These professionals need an associate degree and will need to meet any certification and licensing requirements required by the state and employer. Learn more about occupational therapy assistants. In this Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 photo, Cristine Agresta, left, checks on David Moran as he runs on a treadmill in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
A great career doesn’t require a four-year degree.
For many people, the first step to their dream job is through the doors of their local community college. An associate degree is the final educational hurdle to clear before getting started in a range of health care, science and technology gigs. Among the U.S News 2017 Best Jobs rankings, these 19 professions offer low unemployment, solid salaries and growth potential without necessitating a four-year degree. (Take note: Some jobs do require licensing, certification or continuing education credits, depending on your employer and state.)
Check out the best jobs for community college grads.
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19 Best Jobs for Community College Graduates originally appeared on usnews.com
