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1 / 50#50. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $49,450
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 110 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Fort Smith
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 Fort Smith 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. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $49,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Total employment: 380 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 400 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $49,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 970 people (10.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $50,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $50,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
giocalde // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Printing press operators
- Median annual wage: $50,760
- Median hourly wage: $24.41
- Total employment: 160 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $50,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.51
- Total employment: 830 people (8.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $51,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $51,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 460 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $52,120
- Median hourly wage: $25.06
- Total employment: 170 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $53,120
- Median hourly wage: $25.54
- Total employment: 150 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $53,340
- Median hourly wage: $25.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $54,650
- Median hourly wage: $26.28
- Total employment: 90 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $54,790
- Median hourly wage: $26.34
- Total employment: 390 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $54,900
- Median hourly wage: $26.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $55,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 110 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 110 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $56,500
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 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: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 1,030 people (10.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 780 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 410 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $57,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 1,130 people (11.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $58,070
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 460 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $59,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 200 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $59,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 150 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $60,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 3,310 people (34.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 210 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 140 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Said M // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 510 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $65,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 120 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $69,980
- Median hourly wage: $33.65
- Total employment: 150 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $71,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: 100 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $72,580
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 130 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $73,270
- Median hourly wage: $35.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $74,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.87
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $76,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $77,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $80,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.73
- Total employment: 150 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.16
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $95,920
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 110 people (1.13 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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