What kinds of majors could someone get a real job with with just an associates degree? I don't mean a good job

Question

but one that pays the bills.

Answer 1

Applied associates degrees are a slam dunk when it comes to employability qualification in minimal time for minimal money.  Some outstanding jobs are trained at the applied associates level.  The return on investment in time and money can be very high indeed.  

Nursing and most of the allied health professions (radiology tech, respiratory therapy tech, physical therapy tech., medical records tech., medical lab tech., etc...

IT and Computer Service - especially in network admin and PC repair.  Also applications specialist training - the people who actually know how to use Excel and create massively complicated spreadsheets.

Construction trades - things from plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, all the way to the general contractor.

Automotive and Industrial Mechanics - things from auto repair, auto body, diesel mechanics, marine and small engine mechanics, manufacturing equipment repair, biomedical equipment repair, aviation mechanics, etc...

Insurance and Real Estate license training - it's commission sales but some people like it a lot.

Take a look at your community college's offerings - you're bound to find some really interesting stuff there.  Some doesn't even require an associates degree.

Answer 2

nursing, paralegal, x-ray tech, paramedic, etc...