DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $65,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Tampa
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 Tampa 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Tampa that require a bachelor's degree
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 3,970 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $65,290
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 2,090 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Freedomz // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mariakray // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: 290 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Tampa
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 880 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $67,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.36
- Total employment: 10,380 people (7.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $67,350
- Median hourly wage: $32.38
- Total employment: 630 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $68,440
- Median hourly wage: $32.90
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Tampa
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $69,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $69,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.58
- Total employment: 2,830 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 7,340 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $71,200
- Median hourly wage: $34.23
- Total employment: 270 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $71,640
- Median hourly wage: $34.44
- Total employment: 300 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Michelin-starred restaurants in Tampa
Toa55 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 600 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 5,290 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Funeral home managers
- Median annual wage: $74,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 5,120 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Tampa by diners
Vladeep // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $75,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 330 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 2,350 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $76,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 830 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $78,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best high schools in the Tampa metro area
funnyangel // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,140
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $80,170
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 460 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $80,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.63
- Total employment: 1,540 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $81,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 890 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Tampa area
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $83,720
- Median hourly wage: $40.25
- Total employment: 330 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $83,980
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 2,820 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $89,320
- Median hourly wage: $42.94
- Total employment: 1,710 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $90,490
- Median hourly wage: $43.50
- Total employment: 2,410 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $91,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.91
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Tampa
Prath // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $91,400
- Median hourly wage: $43.94
- Total employment: 1,140 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $91,880
- Median hourly wage: $44.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $92,790
- Median hourly wage: $44.61
- Total employment: 250 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $95,000
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 200 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,400
- Median hourly wage: $46.34
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: Best places to live in the Tampa metro area
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $96,800
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 910 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $101,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Total employment: 430 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $102,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.33
- Total employment: 170 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Tampa that require a graduate degree
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $106,490
- Median hourly wage: $51.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $110,300
- Median hourly wage: $53.03
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $119,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $145,140
- Median hourly wage: $69.78
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 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.
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Tampa
