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

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 Modesto 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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1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.14
- Total employment: 1,580 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $72,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.05
- Total employment: 220 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 300 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $73,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 420 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 760 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 1,030 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 1,380 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 930 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,990
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,470
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 810 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Food cooking machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $80,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.61
- Total employment: 150 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $80,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $82,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 170 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,080
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 400 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 220 people (1.15 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: $83,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 180 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $84,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.48
- Total employment: 360 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,400
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,440
- Median hourly wage: $41.08
- Total employment: 80 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,790
- Median hourly wage: $41.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $86,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Mirnes // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $86,150
- Median hourly wage: $41.42
- Total employment: 160 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $87,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.84
- Total employment: 470 people (2.39 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: $87,430
- Median hourly wage: $42.03
- Total employment: 630 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $87,690
- Median hourly wage: $42.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $93,440
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $95,040
- Median hourly wage: $45.69
- Total employment: 780 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $96,120
- Median hourly wage: $46.21
- Total employment: 140 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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goodluz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 310 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $98,270
- Median hourly wage: $47.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $101,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $101,980
- Median hourly wage: $49.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $103,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.91
- Total employment: 290 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $104,750
- Median hourly wage: $50.36
- Total employment: 180 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $105,450
- Median hourly wage: $50.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $107,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $109,770
- Median hourly wage: $52.77
- Total employment: 770 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $110,920
- Median hourly wage: $53.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $112,920
- Median hourly wage: $54.29
- Total employment: 270 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $121,010
- Median hourly wage: $58.18
- Total employment: 210 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $124,330
- Median hourly wage: $59.78
- Total employment: 150 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $155,550
- Median hourly wage: $74.78
- Total employment: 130 people (0.66 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.