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

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 Brunswick 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.

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,450
- Median hourly wage: $22.81
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $47,650
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 210 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $47,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 100 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

hedgehog94 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Pest control workers

- Median annual wage: $47,930
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 80 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,080
- Median hourly wage: $23.12
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $48,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.18
- Total employment: 140 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,230
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.57
- Total employment: 140 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $49,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 140 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $49,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.88
- Total employment: 150 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $49,870
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Total employment: 130 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 490 people (10.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $51,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 200 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Carpenters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 120 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,540
- Median hourly wage: $25.26
- Total employment: 70 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $53,670
- Median hourly wage: $25.81
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $53,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.91
- Total employment: 300 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (tie)

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 220 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,320
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 340 people (7.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 130 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 210 people (4.6 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: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 230 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $58,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 70 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $60,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 150 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 100 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 100 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,600
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: 230 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $66,330
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: Not available

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40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 180 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Virrage Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $69,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,770
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 200 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $76,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.89
- Total employment: 100 people (2.08 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: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 50 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 100 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: Not available

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $94,940
- Median hourly wage: $45.64
- Total employment: 90 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,550
- Median hourly wage: $46.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $155,110
- Median hourly wage: $74.57
- Total employment: 220 people (4.68 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.

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