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

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.

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#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)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#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)

industryviews // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#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)

fizkes // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#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)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#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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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#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)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#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)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#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)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#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)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#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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Suwin // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#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)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#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)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#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)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#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)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $106,540
- Median hourly wage: $51.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#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)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#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)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#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)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#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)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#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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Magsi // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#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)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#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)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#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)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#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)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#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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Vladeep // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#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)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#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)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#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)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#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)

fizkes // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#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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sculpies // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#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)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#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)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#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)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#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)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#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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ITisha // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#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)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#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)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#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)

pio3 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#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)

Prath // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#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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lenetstan // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#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)

goodluz // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#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)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#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)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#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)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#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)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#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)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#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)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#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)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#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)