Stuff to Blog About and More: Top Jobs for Associates Degree

According to CNN, Career Builders and the US Census Bureau, based on salary, industry employment and projected job growth, these are the 10 of the best jobs for workers with two-year degrees:

1. Computer specialists
Median annual wage: $71,510*
Current Employment: 136,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 15 percent

2. Dental hygienists
Median annual wage: $64,740
Current Employment: 167,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 30 percent

3. Fashion designers
Median annual wage: $62,810
Current Employment: 20,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 5 percent

4. Registered nurses
Median annual wage: $60,010
Current Employment: 2,505,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 23 percent

5. Environmental engineering technicians
Median annual wage: $ 40,560
Current Employment: 21,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 25 percent

6. Radiologic technologists and technicians
Median annual wage: $50,260
Current Employment: 196,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 15 percent

7. Industrial engineering technicians
Median annual wage: $47,490
Current Employment: 75,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 10 percent

8. Paralegals and legal assistants
Median annual wage: $44,990
Current Employment: 238,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 22 percent

9. Occupational therapist assistants
Median annual wage: $45,050
Current Employment: 25,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 25 percent

10. Computer support specialists
Median annual wage: $42,400
Current Employment: 552,000
Projected 2016 employment increase: 13 percent

*Salary and employment data based on Bureau of Labor Statistics information.

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.