Looking for a healthy paycheck and an exciting day at work? With an associate degree, you could find yourself in one of the following lucrative careers. Check out the top jobs for two-year degree holders.

Associate degree #1: webmaster

Webmasters work behind-the-scenes of the Web pages we use every day. From social networking sites like Facebook to the page you're reading this article on, webmasters work to keep content flowing and customers happy. As a webmaster, you can freelance with many small clients or work for one larger business. An associate degree or certificate for webmasters or data administrators should be sufficient for entry level positions.

• Big paycheck: Webmaster salaries vary strongly by your location, employer and experience, but salaries are generally strong. At the Arizona Department of Public Safety, for example, webmasters earn annual salaries of $53,421.
• A day in the life: Webmasters are in charge of all technical aspects of a Web site. For you, it could mean a morning of optimizing download speeds, approving user-submitted content or solving a range of technical problems. An afternoon could involve registering the site with various search engines, meeting with customers and vendors or designing new features for the site.

Associate degree #2: industrial engineering technician

Technician careers offer much more than a standard labor job; as an industrial engineering technician, it's up to you to keep a business running at peak performance. A two-year associate degree for engineering technicians can get you the training you need to enter the field. Look for specialized training for industrial engineers.

• Strong salary: Industrial engineering technicians earned mean annual wages of $50,070 in 2008, the BLS reports. Considering other specialties? Aerospace and mechanical engineering technicians also earned over $50k in 2008.
• A day in the life: You'll keep busy in a factory, office, store or repair shop studying everything from personnel to machines. Your goal is to keep everything running at peak performance, which could mean planning workflow, diagramming layouts of equipment and machinery, or analyzing production costs.

Associate degree #3: occupational therapist assistants

This health care career helps others get on their feet. Working as an occupational therapist assistant has you serving under a licensed occupational therapist in a nursing home, occupational therapy center, a hospital or in a patient's home. Your patients will be grateful for your service, and you'll enjoy a career possible with a two-year associate degree in occupational therapy.

• Great earnings: Occupational therapist assistants saw mean annual earnings of $48,440 in 2008, according to the BLS. Those working in home health care services earned $58,810, while those working in nursing homes earned $50,090. Depending on your specialization and employer, it's more than possible to break the $50k mark as an occupational therapist assistant.
• A day in the life: You might spend the morning helping a patient learn how to move from a wheelchair to a bed, or counsel another patient with a learning disability or a work injury. You'll need moderate strength in this career, as you'll spend a lot of time lifting and moving patients yourself.

Associate degree #4: dental hygienist

Keep patients comfortable and assist licensed dentists in this lucrative health care career. Earn an associate degree in dental hygiene, and you could find yourself earning a healthy salary sooner than you might think.

• Healthy wages: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that dental hygienists earned mean annual wages of $66,950 in 2008. Most worked in one or more dentists offices, though some worked in offices of physicians or through employment services.
• A day in the life: Expect a day full of variety as a dental hygienist. Far from just buffing and shining teeth, hygienists stand at the front lines of tooth care, in charge of everything from first diagnoses to x-ray examinations. You'll work with a team of other hygienists and dentists to keep patients comfortable, exams efficient and supplies clean.

Associate degree #5: claims adjuster

Claims adjusters are in charge of determining what's fair in an insurance payout. They work with health and auto insurance companies and individuals to collect and examine the facts of a case. While there is no specific training program for claims adjusters, your best bet is to earn an associate degree in a related field. For example, a claims adjuster with an associate degree in business or accounting would have an excellent background for claims related to financial loss due to merchandise damage or equipment problems.

• Strong wages: Claims adjusters earned mean annual wages of $57,550 in 2008, according to the BLS. Those working for the federal government earned $64,120. An associate degree may be required for jobs with higher salaries and more competition.
• A day in the life: Regardless of your specialization, working as a claims adjuster means looking closely at the facts. You could examine hail damage on a car, examine a client's file to determine their insurance needs, or travel to the site of a fire to examine a company's arson losses. You'll need strong interrogation and communication skills, which makes this the perfect career for someone with legal or criminal justice interests or training.

Career training for $50,000 jobs

While no associate degree program can guarantee a particular career or salary, hiring managers in the fields above typically prefer or require degree training among applicants. Earning an associate degree is a great first step towards the satisfying, challenging career you've been looking for.