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

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 Dalton 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.

fizkes // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $48,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $48,680
- Median hourly wage: $23.40
- Total employment: 150 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Freedomz // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $49,200
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $49,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.87
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,690
- Median hourly wage: $23.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $51,770
- Median hourly wage: $24.89
- Total employment: 270 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $52,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.20
- Total employment: 1,500 people (22.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $53,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.50
- Total employment: 220 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 130 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $54,900
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $55,170
- Median hourly wage: $26.52
- Total employment: 880 people (13.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Dalton?

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $55,210
- Median hourly wage: $26.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $56,250
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 100 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,690
- Median hourly wage: $27.25
- Total employment: 370 people (5.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 280 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.75
- Total employment: 250 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $57,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 190 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Dalton

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,940
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 1,140 people (17.23 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: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 1,030 people (15.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 650 people (9.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 290 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Dalton

David Spates // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 140 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 70 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 100 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 130 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 130 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Dalton

Peakstock // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $66,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 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: $67,280
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 340 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,490
- Median hourly wage: $33.41
- Total employment: 160 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 90 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $71,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: Not available

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

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,410
- Median hourly wage: $34.81
- Total employment: 80 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 100 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.29
- Total employment: 80 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $73,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,780
- Median hourly wage: $36.43
- Total employment: 90 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Dalton by diners

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,230
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: 120 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $79,880
- Median hourly wage: $38.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $95,030
- Median hourly wage: $45.69
- Total employment: 100 people (1.45 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.