Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Atlanta

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

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 Atlanta 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-rated breakfast restaurants in the Atlanta area by diners

#50. Bailiffs

ITisha // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $72,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.70
- Total employment: 270 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Athletes and sports competitors

Neale Cousland // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Athletes and sports competitors

- Median annual wage: $72,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,860 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 6,080 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Physical therapist assistants

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,100
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 1,140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Food service managers

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $73,150
- Median hourly wage: $35.17
- Total employment: 3,870 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Atlanta

#45. Architectural and civil drafters

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $73,330
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 2,440 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 8,610 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Health information technologists and medical registrars

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $74,160
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 680 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,000
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: 1,300 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 1,900 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Atlanta

#40. Flight attendants

4 PM production // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

#39. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 9,730 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

4 PM production // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 13,070 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 580 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

- Median annual wage: $77,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.48
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

sculpies // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 15,820 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: Not available

#32. Radiologic technologists and technicians

lenetstan // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: 3,690 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 6,490 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Atlanta October 2025

#30. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

BearFotos // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $79,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 370 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 4,240 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $81,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.96
- Total employment: 1,880 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 2,140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Costume attendants

Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Costume attendants

- Median annual wage: $82,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Atlanta

#25. Mechanical drafters

Gearstd // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $84,050
- Median hourly wage: $40.41
- Total employment: 260 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Computer network support specialists

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $85,010
- Median hourly wage: $40.87
- Total employment: 2,730 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $85,360
- Median hourly wage: $41.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Avionics technicians

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $86,850
- Median hourly wage: $41.76
- Total employment: 760 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Diagnostic medical sonographers

SofikoS // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $87,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.97
- Total employment: 1,360 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Atlanta metro area

#20. Respiratory therapists

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $88,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.73
- Total employment: 2,660 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Brickmasons and blockmasons

John Leung // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $89,140
- Median hourly wage: $42.86
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $90,550
- Median hourly wage: $43.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Peakstock // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $95,090
- Median hourly wage: $45.72
- Total employment: 790 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Atlanta

#15. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $95,920
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 3,200 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dental hygienists

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $97,710
- Median hourly wage: $46.98
- Total employment: 4,760 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Funeral home managers

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $97,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.11
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Nuclear medicine technologists

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $98,420
- Median hourly wage: $47.32
- Total employment: 310 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $98,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.50
- Total employment: 290 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Suwin // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $116,330
- Median hourly wage: $55.93
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Artists and related workers, all other

kojala // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $116,560
- Median hourly wage: $56.04
- Total employment: 360 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $119,790
- Median hourly wage: $57.59
- Total employment: 4,430 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Power plant operators

michaeljung // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $120,990
- Median hourly wage: $58.17
- Total employment: 150 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Atlanta

#5. Transportation inspectors

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $123,780
- Median hourly wage: $59.51
- Total employment: 370 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

Kokulina // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

- Median annual wage: $133,050
- Median hourly wage: $63.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Commercial pilots

Skycolors // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $139,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 500 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $145,780
- Median hourly wage: $70.09
- Total employment: 100 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Air traffic controllers

Burben // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $182,310
- Median hourly wage: $87.65
- Total employment: 820 people (0.28 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: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Atlanta