Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Hartford

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 Hartford 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. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 130 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 260 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 2,890 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

industryviews // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

#46. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 180 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,160
- Median hourly wage: $38.06
- Total employment: 530 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 500 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 2,680 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 140 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,230
- Median hourly wage: $38.57
- Total employment: 130 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: Not available

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13 / 50

#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $80,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 330 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

#37. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 380 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $81,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.97
- Total employment: 580 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,310
- Median hourly wage: $39.09
- Total employment: 960 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 260 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $82,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 290 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $82,860
- Median hourly wage: $39.84
- Total employment: 2,080 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $83,310
- Median hourly wage: $40.05
- Total employment: 150 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 3,840 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.44
- Total employment: 730 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Athletes and sports competitors

- Median annual wage: $84,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $84,540
- Median hourly wage: $40.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 2,180 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $85,340
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Total employment: 210 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,520
- Median hourly wage: $41.11
- Total employment: 2,360 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $86,620
- Median hourly wage: $41.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $87,090
- Median hourly wage: $41.87
- Total employment: 460 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.97
- Total employment: 2,230 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $90,420
- Median hourly wage: $43.47
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $95,470
- Median hourly wage: $45.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $95,650
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 340 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $95,710
- Median hourly wage: $46.01
- Total employment: 1,290 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $97,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.72
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,250
- Median hourly wage: $47.24
- Total employment: Not available

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37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,520
- Median hourly wage: $47.85
- Total employment: 160 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.96
- Total employment: 390 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $101,400
- Median hourly wage: $48.75
- Total employment: 160 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

#11. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $102,040
- Median hourly wage: $49.06
- Total employment: 380 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vladeep // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $102,260
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $104,120
- Median hourly wage: $50.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $106,530
- Median hourly wage: $51.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $106,750
- Median hourly wage: $51.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $107,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.85
- Total employment: 940 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $111,900
- Median hourly wage: $53.80
- Total employment: 360 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $113,970
- Median hourly wage: $54.80
- Total employment: 710 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $123,860
- Median hourly wage: $59.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)