The top 5 associate degrees that guarantee a salary of over $100,000.

On average, college graduates earn more than those without a degree. However, it's not necessary to have a bachelor's degree to secure a high-paying job.

A two-year degree can be just as valuable as a four-year degree, according to a report from Payscale.

According to Payscale, more than 3 million college graduates with either an associate or bachelor's degree were analyzed based on their education and employment histories. The ranking of colleges was done according to the median salaries of alumni in their early-career pay and mid-career pay.

According to research published on Sept. 4, associate degree holders can potentially earn up to $150,000 within a decade of graduation.

Here are the five highest-paying associate degrees, according to Payscale:

1. Instrumentation technology

• Early-career median pay: $55,300
• Mid-career median pay: $116,300

2. Software engineering

• Early-career median pay: $67,200
• Mid-career median pay: $112,400

3. Radiation therapy

• Early-career median pay: $75,200
• Mid-career median pay: $109,500

4. Fire technology

• Early-career median pay: $50,600
• Mid-career median pay: $102,500

5. Instrumentation & control engineering

• Early-career median pay: $63,300
• Mid-career median pay: $101,900

According to Payscale, students who obtain an associate degree in science, technology, engineering, or math are predicted to earn the highest overall.

For years, the tech and health-care industries have grappled with talent shortages. In response, many employers in these fields are now dropping the requirement for a bachelor's degree for some middle-skill and higher-skill roles, opening up new opportunities for students who choose to pursue a two-year degree.

The highest-paying majors, in terms of average mid-career salaries, are instrumentation technology at $116,300, software engineering at $112,400, and radiation therapy at $109,500.

Manufacturing equipment can be installed, tested, and repaired by instrument technicians in various industries, including chemical plants, food processing plants, petroleum refineries, and other businesses. This specialized role often requires working with hazardous materials and in potentially dangerous environments.

According to Payscale, the highest-paying two-year degrees are offered at schools that specialize in nursing, engineering, or other STEM-related fields.

In New York City, the Helene Fuld College of Nursing offers the most financially rewarding associate degrees, with mid-career pay of $106,200, followed by Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, at $100,900. Among the top 10 schools with the highest-earning graduates, many specialize in nursing and health care.

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