Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Homosassa Springs

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 Homosassa Springs 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.

hedgehog94 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Pest control workers

- Median annual wage: $42,640
- Median hourly wage: $20.50
- Total employment: 80 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $42,730
- Median hourly wage: $20.55
- Total employment: 80 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $43,230
- Median hourly wage: $20.78
- Total employment: 40 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $43,400
- Median hourly wage: $20.86
- Total employment: 60 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $43,420
- Median hourly wage: $20.88
- Total employment: 40 people (1.23 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: $43,490
- Median hourly wage: $20.91
- Total employment: 40 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Dental assistants

- Median annual wage: $44,020
- Median hourly wage: $21.16
- Total employment: 70 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

- Median annual wage: $44,030
- Median hourly wage: $21.17
- Total employment: 390 people (11.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $44,320
- Median hourly wage: $21.31
- Total employment: 260 people (7.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $44,420
- Median hourly wage: $21.36
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $44,550
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $44,680
- Median hourly wage: $21.48
- Total employment: 190 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $44,820
- Median hourly wage: $21.55
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $45,610
- Median hourly wage: $21.93
- Total employment: 160 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $45,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.00
- Total employment: 380 people (10.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $45,780
- Median hourly wage: $22.01
- Total employment: 90 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $45,860
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 160 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $46,030
- Median hourly wage: $22.13
- Total employment: 130 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $46,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.21
- Total employment: 120 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $46,440
- Median hourly wage: $22.33
- Total employment: 70 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $46,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.59
- Total employment: Not available

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22 / 50

#29. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $47,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.72
- Total employment: 170 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $47,500
- Median hourly wage: $22.84
- Total employment: 310 people (8.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $47,680
- Median hourly wage: $22.92
- Total employment: 40 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $47,780
- Median hourly wage: $22.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $47,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.97
- Total employment: 210 people (6.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.73
- Total employment: 150 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $50,170
- Median hourly wage: $24.12
- Total employment: 60 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $50,420
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $50,560
- Median hourly wage: $24.31
- Total employment: 120 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,620
- Median hourly wage: $24.34
- Total employment: 80 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $51,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.66
- Total employment: 220 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Total employment: 200 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $53,560
- Median hourly wage: $25.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 70 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,670
- Median hourly wage: $26.28
- Total employment: 340 people (9.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 90 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,830
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 40 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 300 people (8.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 100 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 180 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 280 people (7.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 90 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 40 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 150 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 90 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $69,840
- Median hourly wage: $33.58
- Total employment: 40 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $74,070
- Median hourly wage: $35.61
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 40 people (1.27 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.