SritanaN // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Panama City
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 Panama City 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. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $51,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 250 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $51,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 220 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $52,610
- Median hourly wage: $25.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $52,870
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $52,900
- Median hourly wage: $25.43
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $53,350
- Median hourly wage: $25.65
- Total employment: 360 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $53,730
- Median hourly wage: $25.83
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $54,150
- Median hourly wage: $26.03
- Total employment: 200 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $54,830
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 100 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $55,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $56,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.37
- Total employment: 260 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $57,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.52
- Total employment: 720 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $58,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.90
- Total employment: 130 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 120 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $58,670
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 550 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 300 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 110 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $59,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 260 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 510 people (5.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 100 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 280 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $61,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 570 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 90 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $65,850
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 190 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,010
- Median hourly wage: $32.22
- Total employment: 140 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $68,030
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 920 people (10.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $69,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 330 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SofikoS // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $72,000
- Median hourly wage: $34.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $73,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.13
- Total employment: 120 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $74,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 90 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $81,350
- Median hourly wage: $39.11
- Total employment: 80 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $82,710
- Median hourly wage: $39.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $87,920
- Median hourly wage: $42.27
- Total employment: 130 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $93,230
- Median hourly wage: $44.82
- Total employment: 160 people (1.82 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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