Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $52,620
- Median hourly wage: $25.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Dover
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 Dover 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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2 / 50#49. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Median annual wage: $52,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.37
- Total employment: 200 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $52,940
- Median hourly wage: $25.45
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 80 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $53,710
- Median hourly wage: $25.82
- Total employment: 80 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $54,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $54,350
- Median hourly wage: $26.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 130 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 180 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $58,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 280 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $58,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 350 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $58,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $58,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 140 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 390 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $59,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 80 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 120 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 90 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 200 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 130 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 170 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 270 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $63,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 90 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 230 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $64,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Total employment: 800 people (11.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $65,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 240 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,920
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $68,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.72
- Total employment: 380 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $69,990
- Median hourly wage: $33.65
- Total employment: 90 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,650
- Median hourly wage: $35.41
- Total employment: 220 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: Not available
sculpies // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 310 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $78,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.87
- Total employment: 90 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.76
- Total employment: 300 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $80,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 360 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $82,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.49
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $83,980
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 80 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $91,910
- Median hourly wage: $44.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $97,920
- Median hourly wage: $47.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $116,790
- Median hourly wage: $56.15
- Total employment: 110 people (1.65 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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