Is an AA really going to benefit you that much? No, I wouldn't say so. Associate degrees are most suited for use as a stepping stone for furthering your education. Without some sort of supplement like certification or experience, they probably aren't going to take you much further along your career path than a high school diploma will. How much you need to fall back on your education history varies from person to person though, so it's quite possible you could get along just fine without a BA.