Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Auburn

For many, a two-year associate degree can be the ticket to higher earning power at an affordable price. Though some types of associate degrees can be a stepping stone to a bachelor's, others are geared toward middle-skilled careers that require specialized knowledge, such as criminal justice, cybersecurity, hospitality management, and more.

Across all fields of study, someone with a two-year degree can earn a median annual salary of $49,500 as of May 2024, around 18% more than that of a high school graduate. By comparison, bachelor's degree holders can earn a median salary of $66,600 but have to invest much more time—and money—into their degree.

According to March 2025 data from the Education Data Initiative, the total cost for a degree from a two-year in-district public college averages about $35,000, compared to nearly $109,000 for a bachelor's degree. And lower costs mean fewer student loans. Just 2 in 5 associate degree recipients took on student loan debt in the 2019-2020 school year (the most recent year with available data), compared to 64% of bachelor's degree students. The two-year degree holders who did use loans borrowed less money, incurring lower interest payments.

Despite the benefits of earning a two-year degree, the number of these credentials produced across the United States is lagging. A September 2024 study from Georgetown University forecasts a nationwide shortage of nearly 361,000 credentials to fill middle-skilled jobs through 2032. However, this could be good news for anyone holding one of these versatile degrees, since the number of available jobs may soon outnumber the employees qualified to work them.

In the meantime, Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Auburn for people with a two-year associate degree. The analysis also included jobs that listed a high school diploma, some college but no degree, a postsecondary nondegree award, or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $46,870
- Median hourly wage: $22.53
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $47,800
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Total employment: 110 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $48,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.10
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 340 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $48,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $48,200
- Median hourly wage: $23.17
- Total employment: 200 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $48,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 80 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $48,320
- Median hourly wage: $23.23
- Total employment: 1,080 people (15.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

O.PASH // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $48,430
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $48,520
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 230 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $48,590
- Median hourly wage: $23.36
- Total employment: 180 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.57
- Total employment: 80 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Total employment: 240 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $49,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 120 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

- Median annual wage: $50,330
- Median hourly wage: $24.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $51,470
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.76
- Total employment: 300 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $52,180
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 350 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 200 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,740
- Median hourly wage: $26.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $55,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.79
- Total employment: 640 people (8.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $55,920
- Median hourly wage: $26.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $56,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.37
- Total employment: 110 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $57,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 90 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 360 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $57,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 400 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 90 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 230 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $59,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 410 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,780
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 450 people (6.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Socrates471 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Audio and video technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 120 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 230 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 460 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $63,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 630 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,440
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 370 people (5.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $69,320
- Median hourly wage: $33.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $71,700
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $77,100
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.12
- Total employment: 110 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 363 metros.