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

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 Valdosta 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.

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1 / 50

#50. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $46,170
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Total employment: 390 people (7.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $46,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.24
- Total employment: 190 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $46,280
- Median hourly wage: $22.25
- Total employment: 320 people (5.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $46,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $46,810
- Median hourly wage: $22.50
- Total employment: 190 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $46,890
- Median hourly wage: $22.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $46,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $46,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.59
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,800
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DC Studio // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 80 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 100 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,750
- Median hourly wage: $23.44
- Total employment: 240 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Prath // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,610
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 100 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,420
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 1,270 people (23.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,820
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 380 people (6.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $51,700
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 140 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $51,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.87
- Total employment: 90 people (1.67 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: $52,300
- Median hourly wage: $25.14
- Total employment: 480 people (8.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $52,430
- Median hourly wage: $25.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 100 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Total employment: 410 people (7.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Total employment: 160 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $54,530
- Median hourly wage: $26.22
- Total employment: 60 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $54,620
- Median hourly wage: $26.26
- Total employment: 60 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $54,730
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,570
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.30
- Total employment: 160 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 120 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $59,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: Not available

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 110 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 290 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 110 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 130 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 90 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 410 people (7.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $63,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 90 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 300 people (5.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $64,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 100 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 310 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.25
- Total employment: 80 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $89,990
- Median hourly wage: $43.26
- Total employment: Not available

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50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $95,450
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 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.