FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $51,600
- Median hourly wage: $24.81
- Total employment: 420 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Prescott Valley
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 Prescott Valley 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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fizkes // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $51,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 100 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $52,230
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 210 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $52,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.38
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $52,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 270 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAYA LAB // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Forest and conservation technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 120 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $54,450
- Median hourly wage: $26.18
- Total employment: 180 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $55,060
- Median hourly wage: $26.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 170 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Vitpho // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $55,800
- Median hourly wage: $26.83
- Total employment: 1,150 people (16.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $56,760
- Median hourly wage: $27.29
- Total employment: 200 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 230 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $57,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 530 people (7.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 190 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 110 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 190 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.15
- Total employment: 110 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.15
- Total employment: 320 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.35
- Total employment: 650 people (9.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 330 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $60,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 120 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 80 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 330 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rlat // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 120 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 300 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,290
- Median hourly wage: $31.87
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 260 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $69,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 360 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $71,600
- Median hourly wage: $34.42
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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sculpies // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $72,190
- Median hourly wage: $34.71
- Total employment: 520 people (7.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $74,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.97
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $75,220
- Median hourly wage: $36.16
- Total employment: 520 people (7.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 150 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $77,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 80 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $78,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.52
- Total employment: 110 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $82,690
- Median hourly wage: $39.75
- Total employment: 330 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $82,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Total employment: Not available
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Skycolors // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $90,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $95,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.06
- Total employment: 170 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $97,860
- Median hourly wage: $47.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $98,250
- Median hourly wage: $47.23
- Total employment: 120 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $101,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 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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