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

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 Mobile 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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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 380 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 290 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $59,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 210 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $59,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 1,090 people (6.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

First Class Photography // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 150 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 440 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 1,790 people (10.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 230 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 1,250 people (7.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 1,570 people (9.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 1,160 people (6.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 1,150 people (6.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 120 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 180 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 100 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,100
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 210 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $64,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 750 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 250 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 610 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SofikoS // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $65,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $66,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $67,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 150 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $67,430
- Median hourly wage: $32.42
- Total employment: 160 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,510
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,910
- Median hourly wage: $33.13
- Total employment: 1,500 people (8.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $68,980
- Median hourly wage: $33.16
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $71,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: Not available

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,230
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 1,280 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $75,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 280 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.64
- Total employment: 1,340 people (7.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $79,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $82,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 710 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $84,780
- Median hourly wage: $40.76
- Total employment: Not available

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45 / 50

#6. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $88,730
- Median hourly wage: $42.66
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,860
- Median hourly wage: $47.53
- Total employment: 190 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.96
- Total employment: 140 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,600
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 130 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $107,240
- Median hourly wage: $51.56
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $116,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 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.