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1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $69,910
- Median hourly wage: $33.61
- Total employment: 140 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Napa
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 Napa 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#48. Refuse and recyclable material collectors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $70,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 100 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $70,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $70,990
- Median hourly wage: $34.13
- Total employment: 180 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $71,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.38
- Total employment: 400 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 110 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.61
- Total employment: 340 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $73,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 160 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 100 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $75,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 160 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $75,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $76,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 130 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
18 / 50#32. Paralegals and legal assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Chefs and head cooks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 270 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 350 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $78,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Total employment: 640 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 200 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $78,760
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $78,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 260 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $78,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.95
- Total employment: 570 people (7.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $80,910
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 240 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 210 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,310
- Median hourly wage: $39.09
- Total employment: 190 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $81,820
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 320 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 210 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $84,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 230 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $84,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $88,610
- Median hourly wage: $42.60
- Total employment: 120 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $89,720
- Median hourly wage: $43.14
- Total employment: 930 people (11.89 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: $94,080
- Median hourly wage: $45.23
- Total employment: 220 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $95,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $97,520
- Median hourly wage: $46.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $97,850
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $99,060
- Median hourly wage: $47.63
- Total employment: 340 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $99,450
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 90 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $100,010
- Median hourly wage: $48.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $100,950
- Median hourly wage: $48.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $124,170
- Median hourly wage: $59.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $127,840
- Median hourly wage: $61.46
- Total employment: 100 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $128,980
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Total employment: 280 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $142,270
- Median hourly wage: $68.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $168,580
- Median hourly wage: $81.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 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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