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

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 Anchorage 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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Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,490
- Median hourly wage: $37.74
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $79,050
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $79,680
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,040
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Total employment: 300 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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fizkes // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $81,440
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Total employment: 130 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $81,700
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Total employment: 190 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.48
- Total employment: 220 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 300 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $83,430
- Median hourly wage: $40.11
- Total employment: 130 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $84,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.39
- Total employment: 460 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,380
- Median hourly wage: $41.05
- Total employment: 220 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.27
- Total employment: 950 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $86,490
- Median hourly wage: $41.58
- Total employment: 160 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Computer network support specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $86,490
- Median hourly wage: $41.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $87,010
- Median hourly wage: $41.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Parilov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $87,630
- Median hourly wage: $42.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,240
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $89,490
- Median hourly wage: $43.02
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $90,150
- Median hourly wage: $43.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $92,280
- Median hourly wage: $44.36
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $92,560
- Median hourly wage: $44.50
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $94,110
- Median hourly wage: $45.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $94,950
- Median hourly wage: $45.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $96,580
- Median hourly wage: $46.43
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#22. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $96,610
- Median hourly wage: $46.45
- Total employment: 410 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $96,610
- Median hourly wage: $46.45
- Total employment: 170 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.81
- Total employment: 1,080 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $97,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 1,410 people (8.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 270 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,850
- Median hourly wage: $47.52
- Total employment: 600 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Said M // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $98,920
- Median hourly wage: $47.56
- Total employment: 140 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $100,170
- Median hourly wage: $48.16
- Total employment: 110 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $100,400
- Median hourly wage: $48.27
- Total employment: 180 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $103,160
- Median hourly wage: $49.60
- Total employment: 190 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $103,710
- Median hourly wage: $49.86
- Total employment: 100 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,970
- Median hourly wage: $49.98
- Total employment: 210 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Peakstock // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $104,140
- Median hourly wage: $50.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $110,180
- Median hourly wage: $52.97
- Total employment: 570 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $111,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,340 people (7.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $111,140
- Median hourly wage: $53.43
- Total employment: 590 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $118,510
- Median hourly wage: $56.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $124,400
- Median hourly wage: $59.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $129,780
- Median hourly wage: $62.39
- Total employment: 460 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $136,420
- Median hourly wage: $65.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $143,520
- Median hourly wage: $69.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Burben // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $157,160
- Median hourly wage: $75.56
- Total employment: 280 people (1.58 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.