Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in El Centro

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 El Centro 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.

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $56,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 90 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 110 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Goldsithney // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Psychiatric technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in El Centro

David Spates // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.15
- Total employment: 110 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $59,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 80 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 110 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 230 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 160 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $62,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 110 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 220 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 480 people (7.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.07
- Total employment: 230 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 120 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in El Centro October 2025

SritanaN // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 130 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 80 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $68,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.11
- Total employment: 110 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,370
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 170 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $71,280
- Median hourly wage: $34.27
- Total employment: 340 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 140 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $73,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 310 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in El Centro this year

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,580
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 160 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $75,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 100 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,320
- Median hourly wage: $36.69
- Total employment: 80 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 280 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 90 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $81,480
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 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: $82,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Total employment: 170 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 180 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $83,270
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 180 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: El Centro 7-day weather forecast

lenetstan // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,900
- Median hourly wage: $41.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $87,490
- Median hourly wage: $42.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $94,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $104,090
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 1,320 people (20.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $109,120
- Median hourly wage: $52.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $116,600
- Median hourly wage: $56.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $121,330
- Median hourly wage: $58.33
- Total employment: 730 people (11.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,920
- Median hourly wage: $61.50
- Total employment: 210 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $131,420
- Median hourly wage: $63.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $177,610
- Median hourly wage: $85.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 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.