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

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 Augusta 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.

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 1,280 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 1,850 people (8.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 460 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $61,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 250 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 460 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 130 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#41. Transportation security screeners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Massage therapists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 130 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 480 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 120 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 630 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 1,180 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 500 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAYA LAB // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Forest and conservation technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $64,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.17
- Total employment: 140 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,290
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 270 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 70 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 190 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $68,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Total employment: 400 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,980
- Median hourly wage: $33.65
- Total employment: 150 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,400
- Median hourly wage: $33.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $71,670
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,950
- Median hourly wage: $34.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $72,290
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 130 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Josep Suria // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $73,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 360 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 1,090 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.60
- Total employment: 1,640 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $74,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.80
- Total employment: 310 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.03
- Total employment: 1,390 people (6.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $75,160
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 130 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 180 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $76,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $76,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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photodiem // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $78,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 300 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,660
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 170 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,810
- Median hourly wage: $38.85
- Total employment: 150 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,350
- Median hourly wage: $41.52
- Total employment: 150 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $92,800
- Median hourly wage: $44.62
- Total employment: 290 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $94,310
- Median hourly wage: $45.34
- Total employment: 100 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,980
- Median hourly wage: $45.66
- Total employment: 230 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $98,490
- Median hourly wage: $47.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Nuclear technicians

- Median annual wage: $103,120
- Median hourly wage: $49.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.04 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.