Shift Drive // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $69,510
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 370 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Salinas
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 Salinas 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. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $69,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 170 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $71,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.40
- Total employment: 370 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 1,300 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $72,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 340 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 340 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $73,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 140 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $74,270
- Median hourly wage: $35.71
- Total employment: 1,210 people (6.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $75,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: 240 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 190 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 90 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $76,520
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: Not available
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $76,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $77,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 450 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $78,400
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $78,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 380 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $79,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $79,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.00
- Total employment: 290 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $79,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 590 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $79,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 330 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $80,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $80,600
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Total employment: 630 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 170 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 150 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 1,040 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $84,210
- Median hourly wage: $40.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $85,700
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: Not available
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,710
- Median hourly wage: $42.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $90,430
- Median hourly wage: $43.48
- Total employment: 500 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 140 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $91,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $92,300
- Median hourly wage: $44.37
- Total employment: 510 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $93,310
- Median hourly wage: $44.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $99,110
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $99,320
- Median hourly wage: $47.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $100,980
- Median hourly wage: $48.55
- Total employment: 150 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $105,350
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 130 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,960
- Median hourly wage: $50.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $106,280
- Median hourly wage: $51.09
- Total employment: 180 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $106,490
- Median hourly wage: $51.20
- Total employment: 1,490 people (7.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $115,010
- Median hourly wage: $55.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $122,050
- Median hourly wage: $58.68
- Total employment: 170 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $122,290
- Median hourly wage: $58.80
- Total employment: 780 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $122,820
- Median hourly wage: $59.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $129,880
- Median hourly wage: $62.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $141,730
- Median hourly wage: $68.14
- Total employment: 140 people (0.77 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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