Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Punta Gorda

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 Punta Gorda 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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#50. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $49,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $49,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Total employment: 330 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

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#47. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mahc // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $50,100
- Median hourly wage: $24.09
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $50,810
- Median hourly wage: $24.43
- Total employment: 120 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

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#44. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 250 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

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#43. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $51,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

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#42. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $52,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 220 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

#40. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,720
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $54,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.27
- Total employment: 470 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

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#38. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,920
- Median hourly wage: $26.41
- Total employment: 110 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 130 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $56,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 30 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 200 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 200 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 240 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 110 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 350 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 60 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

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#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 500 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#24. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 100 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

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#23. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 60 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 500 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $63,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 140 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 70 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

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#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.61
- Total employment: 140 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 210 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 500 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $69,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,530
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 510 people (9.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 110 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

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#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $79,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 240 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $81,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)