The typical answer applies: It depends. However, generally, it will open more doors for you than having not having an associate's degree. Associate degrees more often seem to be preparatory for a terminal degree. For example, an associates in education may be useful for most students only for accessing a bachelor degree in education in order to enter the teaching career path.

If it is a "generalist" associate's degree (humanities, social sciences)it may likely give access to some entry level corporate jobs, for example, with insurance companies or state or federal governments.
An associate's degree in the life sciences might get you a technician job for, example, in some hospital laboratories.

Some technical careers seem to be "upgraded" to an associates rank. Examples may be legal secretary, court reporter, medical insurance coding, or aviation mechanic.

And some professional careers may be "downgraded" to an associates degree. Actually, these can be "assistants-to-the professionals". Examples can be a sonographic technician and surveyor technician.

There are also traditional associate degees which have terminal stature in their own right. An RN nurse readily comes to mind in this category.

An "Associate of Arts" or an "Associate of Science" is a type of degree that is awarded in many different fields, from nursing to culinary to general education to drafting. It is typically a two-year degree, where a bachelor's degree is a four-year degree (or two years in addition to an associate's), and a master's is an additional two years beyond the bachelor's.

What type of job market is available depends on the field. For example, there are a lot of nursing jobs available with an associate's degree in nursing, however there are not many jobs available to someone with an associate's degree in other fields.
You will need to research the field to get a feel for the job market.

More input from others:

• The best place for the answer to this question is the college offering the degree. The division office or academic department that offers the degree should have information on the kinds of jobs their graduates have obtained.

• You can have a great paying job with only an AA degree in general ed. I am a teachers aide for a unified school district. You can get paid starting at $12 an hour up to $14 an hour. Depends on what other jobs you are going for. There are a lot of jobs within a school district. Some pay higher than others. You really should look into it. All a teachers aide does would be grading papers, copying papers, a little filing if really needed. Maybe help out on the school yard and watch the kids for an hour or two. You can even tutor. Helping with special ed kids you earn more money. Plus, being bilingual is a plus also. They work around your schedule. You can work 2 hrs, 3 hrs, 3 1/2, up to 5 or 6 hours. This type of job is called a classified position. If you had your credential, you would be certified and be able to teach.

• If you are interested in working with children in a Daycare, Headstart, Preschool, or Public School, here is a list of jobs you will be able to get with an Associates of Arts Degree: Media Specialist, Paraprofessional, or Teacher Assistant. If you are interested in doing work in an Education Service Cooperative, you should be able to get a job.

• Many jobs like that people have an AA for math and English education, but if you're looking for a career then go for a BA, If you want to get a job right after your AA, then I would suggest an AAS degree because is studies a certain job field. You can apply at any job with an AA.

• Nowhere! I have had more turn downs since I have gotten my degree. You are better off acting like a dumby to get a job than you are saying you have a degree.

• Associate's degrees can be the status quo for entry into police work, retail management, accounting/bookkeeping, business, paralegal work, or nursing. Almost all of these careers mean going back to school for a bachelors. The key point is that they give you a minimum background to start working- once you get a bachelor's and go job hunting for a REAL job and salary, you're going to want to have WORK EXPERIENCE to set you apart from the fresh bachelor's grads who do not have this experience. An Associate's degree is useful for the person ready to break into the work world.