Toa55 // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $80,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.81
- Total employment: 270 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in San Diego
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 San Diego 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. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $81,690
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 700 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $82,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 4,030 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $82,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.63
- Total employment: 960 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $82,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,820 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
7 / 50#43. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $82,740
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,100 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $82,740
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,810 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 2,700 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
curraheeshutter // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Ship engineers
- Median annual wage: $83,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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mariakray // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photostriker // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $83,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 170 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $83,840
- Median hourly wage: $40.31
- Total employment: 390 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $83,860
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 320 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $84,730
- Median hourly wage: $40.73
- Total employment: 510 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santi lumubol // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $85,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.92
- Total employment: 1,860 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Magsi // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Median annual wage: $86,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $86,920
- Median hourly wage: $41.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,390
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 790 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Agape // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Avionics technicians
- Median annual wage: $90,270
- Median hourly wage: $43.40
- Total employment: 240 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BGStock72 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $90,900
- Median hourly wage: $43.70
- Total employment: 1,490 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 590 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $93,670
- Median hourly wage: $45.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 7,720 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 910 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
funnyangel // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $96,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $96,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $98,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $99,580
- Median hourly wage: $47.88
- Total employment: 500 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
HannaTor // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,590
- Median hourly wage: $49.32
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $102,780
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $102,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
36 / 50#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $106,720
- Median hourly wage: $51.31
- Total employment: 920 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Radiologic technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $106,720
- Median hourly wage: $51.31
- Total employment: 1,640 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $109,000
- Median hourly wage: $52.40
- Total employment: 2,180 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $109,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.49
- Total employment: 4,990 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $114,050
- Median hourly wage: $54.83
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $116,160
- Median hourly wage: $55.85
- Total employment: Not available
Prath // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $118,830
- Median hourly wage: $57.13
- Total employment: 2,780 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $120,300
- Median hourly wage: $57.84
- Total employment: 2,000 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $123,850
- Median hourly wage: $59.54
- Total employment: 270 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $129,440
- Median hourly wage: $62.23
- Total employment: 570 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $136,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $147,340
- Median hourly wage: $70.84
- Total employment: 890 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $156,190
- Median hourly wage: $75.09
- Total employment: 100 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $159,600
- Median hourly wage: $76.73
- Total employment: 140 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $166,600
- Median hourly wage: $80.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 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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