Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 40 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Fairbanks
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 Fairbanks 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: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 40 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 70 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Construction laborers
- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 380 people (10.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $62,260
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 50 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 70 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 170 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $64,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 40 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.29
- Total employment: 110 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $65,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 260 people (7.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $65,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.61
- Total employment: 570 people (15.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 60 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 180 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $67,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 50 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.98
- Total employment: 50 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $69,360
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 130 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $73,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.15
- Total employment: 50 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $73,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 610 people (16.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $73,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 50 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $75,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 470 people (13.14 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: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 60 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $75,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 110 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $77,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Total employment: 120 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $81,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Total employment: 40 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $83,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $83,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.96
- Total employment: 340 people (9.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $83,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.02
- Total employment: 130 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.09
- Total employment: 80 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $84,230
- Median hourly wage: $40.50
- Total employment: 130 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $86,070
- Median hourly wage: $41.38
- Total employment: 70 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $88,200
- Median hourly wage: $42.40
- Total employment: 60 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $91,010
- Median hourly wage: $43.76
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $91,790
- Median hourly wage: $44.13
- Total employment: 30 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $92,240
- Median hourly wage: $44.34
- Total employment: 50 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $93,480
- Median hourly wage: $44.94
- Total employment: 90 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $93,590
- Median hourly wage: $45.00
- Total employment: 50 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 270 people (7.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $94,760
- Median hourly wage: $45.56
- Total employment: 280 people (7.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $95,590
- Median hourly wage: $45.96
- Total employment: 120 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $96,290
- Median hourly wage: $46.29
- Total employment: 290 people (8.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $98,560
- Median hourly wage: $47.38
- Total employment: 40 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $100,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $100,410
- Median hourly wage: $48.27
- Total employment: 410 people (11.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Burben // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $101,190
- Median hourly wage: $48.65
- Total employment: 80 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $106,930
- Median hourly wage: $51.41
- Total employment: 100 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $122,120
- Median hourly wage: $58.71
- Total employment: 50 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $129,820
- Median hourly wage: $62.41
- Total employment: 50 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $130,110
- Median hourly wage: $62.55
- Total employment: 100 people (2.81 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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