Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in San Jose

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

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 Jose 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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#50. Electrical and electronics drafters

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#50. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $101,700
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Total employment: 430 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Surgical technologists

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#49. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $103,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.61
- Total employment: 670 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

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#48. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $103,200
- Median hourly wage: $49.61
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Legal support workers, all other

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#47. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 470 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

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#46. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $103,750
- Median hourly wage: $49.88
- Total employment: 340 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

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#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $104,010
- Median hourly wage: $50.01
- Total employment: 6,110 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

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#44. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $104,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.01
- Total employment: 2,290 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

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#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $104,100
- Median hourly wage: $50.05
- Total employment: 12,490 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

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#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $104,920
- Median hourly wage: $50.44
- Total employment: 500 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Commercial pilots

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#41. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $104,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#39. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay (tie)

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#39. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay (tie)

- Median annual wage: $105,520
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Power plant operators (tie)

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#39. Power plant operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $105,520
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

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#38. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $106,130
- Median hourly wage: $51.02
- Total employment: 990 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

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#37. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $106,440
- Median hourly wage: $51.17
- Total employment: 400 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

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#35. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $107,940
- Median hourly wage: $51.89
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Structural iron and steel workers

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#34. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $110,660
- Median hourly wage: $53.20
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $110,700
- Median hourly wage: $53.22
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Mechanical drafters

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#32. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $111,820
- Median hourly wage: $53.76
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Transportation inspectors

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#31. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $112,900
- Median hourly wage: $54.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#30. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

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#30. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $113,980
- Median hourly wage: $54.80
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

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#29. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $115,500
- Median hourly wage: $55.53
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Sheet metal workers

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#28. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $115,970
- Median hourly wage: $55.76
- Total employment: 860 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Media and communication workers, all other

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#27. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $118,290
- Median hourly wage: $56.87
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

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#26. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $118,470
- Median hourly wage: $56.96
- Total employment: 280 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Crane and tower operators

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#25. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $118,720
- Median hourly wage: $57.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

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#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $119,310
- Median hourly wage: $57.36
- Total employment: 330 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Health information technologists and medical registrars

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#23. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $124,110
- Median hourly wage: $59.67
- Total employment: 340 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

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#22. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $124,300
- Median hourly wage: $59.76
- Total employment: 210 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Public safety telecommunicators

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#21. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $125,310
- Median hourly wage: $60.25
- Total employment: 420 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $126,570
- Median hourly wage: $60.85
- Total employment: 4,290 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Construction and building inspectors

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#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $129,160
- Median hourly wage: $62.10
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Correctional officers and jailers

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#18. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $131,210
- Median hourly wage: $63.08
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

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#17. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $131,640
- Median hourly wage: $63.29
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Dental hygienists

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#16. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $135,010
- Median hourly wage: $64.91
- Total employment: 1,560 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

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#15. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $136,440
- Median hourly wage: $65.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Respiratory therapists

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#14. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $137,080
- Median hourly wage: $65.91
- Total employment: 950 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Fire inspectors and investigators

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#13. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $137,320
- Median hourly wage: $66.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

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#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $150,650
- Median hourly wage: $72.43
- Total employment: 2,520 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

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#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $156,890
- Median hourly wage: $75.43
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

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#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $157,170
- Median hourly wage: $75.56
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $164,180
- Median hourly wage: $78.93
- Total employment: 1,570 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Firefighters

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#8. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $164,940
- Median hourly wage: $79.30
- Total employment: 1,180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

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#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $168,660
- Median hourly wage: $81.09
- Total employment: 340 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

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#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $169,560
- Median hourly wage: $81.52
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

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#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $170,590
- Median hourly wage: $82.01
- Total employment: 210 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

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#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $170,600
- Median hourly wage: $82.02
- Total employment: 490 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Nuclear medicine technologists

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#3. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $183,820
- Median hourly wage: $88.38
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Radiation therapists

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#2. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $187,700
- Median hourly wage: $90.24
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $188,500
- Median hourly wage: $90.63
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 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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