Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in New Haven

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 New Haven 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.

Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Locksmiths and safe repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 2,120 people (7.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 130 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 580 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#42. Electricians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.40
- Total employment: 980 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Electrical and electronics drafters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,370
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 250 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 170 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.88
- Total employment: 160 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 4,280 people (15.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 500 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $77,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.11
- Total employment: 470 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 260 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,500
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 1,100 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $77,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 330 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $77,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.40
- Total employment: 250 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $78,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 550 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 210 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.98
- Total employment: 920 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 140 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $80,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $80,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $80,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,260
- Median hourly wage: $39.07
- Total employment: 330 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $81,840
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 1,330 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,970
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Total employment: 300 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.94
- Total employment: 1,200 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $85,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 940 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $93,040
- Median hourly wage: $44.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 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: $94,020
- Median hourly wage: $45.20
- Total employment: 240 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $94,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.60
- Total employment: 140 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $95,410
- Median hourly wage: $45.87
- Total employment: 420 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.49
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 450 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $101,420
- Median hourly wage: $48.76
- Total employment: 590 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.88
- Total employment: 110 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $102,020
- Median hourly wage: $49.05
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $102,520
- Median hourly wage: $49.29
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $104,380
- Median hourly wage: $50.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $104,610
- Median hourly wage: $50.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $105,230
- Median hourly wage: $50.59
- Total employment: 460 people (1.61 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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