Associate degree jobs that pay well

The median salary of $66,570 can make you smile -- that's more than $10,000 per year higher than the median salary for a four-year grad, according to the College Board. But the real perk in this job is the hours.

"You can be (a dental hygienist) in a big city or small town. It has a flexible schedule and you can work part time," says Laurence Shatkin, author of "300 Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree."

The job's flexibility and high hourly wage make it attractive to family-oriented employees, as does the fact that approximately half of dental hygienists are given an employee-sponsored benefits package, according to research from the American Dental Hygienists' Association. An associate degree is the only requirement to break in. That means future dental hygienists take on far less debt than their four-year college counterparts.