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1 / 50#50. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $51,530
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 100 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Tuscaloosa
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 Tuscaloosa 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. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $52,610
- Median hourly wage: $25.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $52,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 120 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $53,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.57
- Total employment: 210 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
5 / 50#45. Information and record clerks, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,440
- Median hourly wage: $25.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Office and administrative support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,440
- Median hourly wage: $25.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $53,570
- Median hourly wage: $25.76
- Total employment: 170 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,570
- Median hourly wage: $26.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $55,660
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 440 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $55,670
- Median hourly wage: $26.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $57,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peruphotart // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Median annual wage: $58,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.89
- Total employment: 140 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 350 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Total employment: 110 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 260 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $59,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $59,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 470 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 500 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 60 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 120 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 170 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 710 people (6.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 870 people (8.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $62,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Computer user support specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 490 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 620 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $63,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 230 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 1,650 people (15.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $64,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Total employment: 140 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $65,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 120 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $66,890
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Total employment: 420 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mirnes // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 140 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $68,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $68,610
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 110 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $69,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $69,830
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Total employment: 970 people (8.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $71,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 90 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $72,310
- Median hourly wage: $34.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $73,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.19
- Total employment: 850 people (7.82 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: $73,280
- Median hourly wage: $35.23
- Total employment: 690 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $78,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $87,500
- Median hourly wage: $42.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $99,680
- Median hourly wage: $47.93
- Total employment: 110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $111,620
- Median hourly wage: $53.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 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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