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

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 Luis Obispo 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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1 / 50

#50. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $68,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 150 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,490
- Median hourly wage: $33.41
- Total employment: 260 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $69,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,240
- Median hourly wage: $33.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $71,450
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 250 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $72,060
- Median hourly wage: $34.64
- Total employment: 360 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $72,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.83
- Total employment: 860 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $73,710
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 1,080 people (8.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $73,930
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 330 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $74,200
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $74,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 110 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $75,020
- Median hourly wage: $36.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $75,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 670 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 300 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $77,500
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 430 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $77,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,490
- Median hourly wage: $37.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $78,630
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 360 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 110 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,650
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 540 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $80,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.69
- Total employment: 180 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 140 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $81,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $83,540
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 90 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $83,780
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 530 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $84,360
- Median hourly wage: $40.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $87,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $87,960
- Median hourly wage: $42.29
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $88,960
- Median hourly wage: $42.77
- Total employment: 500 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,830
- Median hourly wage: $44.63
- Total employment: 620 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $97,690
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 90 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,210
- Median hourly wage: $47.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $101,690
- Median hourly wage: $48.89
- Total employment: 470 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $103,280
- Median hourly wage: $49.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $104,090
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 700 people (5.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $105,160
- Median hourly wage: $50.56
- Total employment: 100 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $112,600
- Median hourly wage: $54.14
- Total employment: 140 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $120,680
- Median hourly wage: $58.02
- Total employment: 290 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $121,100
- Median hourly wage: $58.22
- Total employment: 220 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $127,720
- Median hourly wage: $61.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,850
- Median hourly wage: $61.47
- Total employment: 110 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $142,060
- Median hourly wage: $68.30
- Total employment: 110 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $147,960
- Median hourly wage: $71.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 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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