Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Albany, Georgia

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 Albany 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.

goodluz // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,600
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 320 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $48,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.46
- Total employment: 90 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $49,090
- Median hourly wage: $23.60
- Total employment: 170 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $49,230
- Median hourly wage: $23.67
- Total employment: 430 people (7.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $50,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $50,510
- Median hourly wage: $24.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#40. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $51,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 100 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Machinists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $51,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 70 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $51,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $53,560
- Median hourly wage: $25.75
- Total employment: 90 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Total employment: 360 people (6.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 280 people (4.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $54,100
- Median hourly wage: $26.01
- Total employment: 60 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.08
- Total employment: 190 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.16
- Total employment: 150 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.46
- Total employment: 640 people (10.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 410 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $55,660
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 1,340 people (22.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.01
- Total employment: 280 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.62 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: $58,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 480 people (8.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 310 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 120 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $60,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 80 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 260 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.37
- Total employment: 310 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $67,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 280 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Prath // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $69,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.31
- Total employment: 70 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $70,320
- Median hourly wage: $33.81
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $71,450
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 260 people (4.44 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: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.51
- Total employment: 330 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,940
- Median hourly wage: $34.59
- Total employment: 110 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $74,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 150 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,650
- Median hourly wage: $35.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 80 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $74,980
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 80 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $75,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Total employment: 100 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,780
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $86,870
- Median hourly wage: $41.76
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)