Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $51,170
- Median hourly wage: $24.60
- Total employment: 220 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Decatur
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 Decatur 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.
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2 / 50#49. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $51,760
- Median hourly wage: $24.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $53,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $53,420
- Median hourly wage: $25.69
- Total employment: 120 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,760
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 170 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 180 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $55,160
- Median hourly wage: $26.52
- Total employment: 230 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $55,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.69
- Total employment: 100 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $55,590
- Median hourly wage: $26.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $55,990
- Median hourly wage: $26.92
- Total employment: 270 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $56,010
- Median hourly wage: $26.93
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $56,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $56,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $56,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.21
- Total employment: 330 people (5.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $56,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 480 people (8.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $57,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 210 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $57,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 300 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $57,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $58,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 1,440 people (24.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 90 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 100 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $61,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 140 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 160 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 140 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $61,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 140 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 450 people (7.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 370 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 110 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 70 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.55
- Total employment: 70 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $68,900
- Median hourly wage: $33.13
- Total employment: 540 people (9.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $70,340
- Median hourly wage: $33.82
- Total employment: 430 people (7.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $72,650
- Median hourly wage: $34.93
- Total employment: 810 people (13.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $77,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 720 people (12.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: 220 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 840 people (14.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,240
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Total employment: 470 people (8.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.97
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $93,700
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $108,040
- Median hourly wage: $51.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $110,760
- Median hourly wage: $53.25
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 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.
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