4 PM production // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $44,810
- Median hourly wage: $21.54
- Total employment: 360 people (6.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Dothan
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 Dothan 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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welcomia // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $44,940
- Median hourly wage: $21.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $45,290
- Median hourly wage: $21.77
- Total employment: 60 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $45,590
- Median hourly wage: $21.92
- Total employment: 80 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $45,850
- Median hourly wage: $22.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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David Spates // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $46,200
- Median hourly wage: $22.21
- Total employment: 200 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $46,960
- Median hourly wage: $22.58
- Total employment: 220 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $47,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.00
- Total employment: 140 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $48,330
- Median hourly wage: $23.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $48,350
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Joey Chung // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $48,960
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 260 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $49,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 100 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $49,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.69
- Total employment: 230 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $49,300
- Median hourly wage: $23.70
- Total employment: 100 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $50,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.23
- Total employment: 170 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jat306 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $50,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $50,700
- Median hourly wage: $24.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $50,760
- Median hourly wage: $24.41
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $51,710
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $51,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $51,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.93
- Total employment: 100 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $52,690
- Median hourly wage: $25.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $53,170
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 100 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 320 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $55,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $55,830
- Median hourly wage: $26.84
- Total employment: 600 people (9.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $56,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 420 people (6.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $56,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.23
- Total employment: 80 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $56,720
- Median hourly wage: $27.27
- Total employment: 70 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $56,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $56,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 80 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $57,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 640 people (10.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $57,760
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 180 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Total employment: 120 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Vitpho // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 1,740 people (28.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 90 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 200 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 300 people (5.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 440 people (7.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 390 people (6.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 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: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 390 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorgev // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,860
- Median hourly wage: $37.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.37
- Total employment: 100 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $96,640
- Median hourly wage: $46.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $128,190
- Median hourly wage: $61.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 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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