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

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 Kahului 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. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 140 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

#49. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 570 people (7.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 190 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $64,790
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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7 / 50

#44. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $65,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $66,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.25
- Total employment: 210 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 1,200 people (16.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 100 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $68,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 170 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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13 / 50

#38. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $68,820
- Median hourly wage: $33.09
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

#37. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $69,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 110 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.17
- Total employment: 70 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $71,250
- Median hourly wage: $34.26
- Total employment: 100 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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18 / 50

#33. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $71,920
- Median hourly wage: $34.58
- Total employment: 2,460 people (34.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 160 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $73,420
- Median hourly wage: $35.30
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $74,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 110 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Motorboat operators

- Median annual wage: $75,820
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 90 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 110 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $78,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 330 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,590
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 280 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $80,040
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Total employment: 780 people (10.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $80,180
- Median hourly wage: $38.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.60
- Total employment: Not available

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32 / 50

#19. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,600
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Total employment: 260 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $82,280
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 830 people (11.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $83,740
- Median hourly wage: $40.26
- Total employment: 130 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $83,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $85,350
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Total employment: Not available

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38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,600
- Median hourly wage: $41.15
- Total employment: 310 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $87,070
- Median hourly wage: $41.86
- Total employment: 260 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $87,410
- Median hourly wage: $42.02
- Total employment: 160 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santi lumubol // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $90,670
- Median hourly wage: $43.59
- Total employment: 110 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $93,070
- Median hourly wage: $44.74
- Total employment: 210 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $96,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $97,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 110 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $98,850
- Median hourly wage: $47.52
- Total employment: 90 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $99,130
- Median hourly wage: $47.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $106,870
- Median hourly wage: $51.38
- Total employment: 350 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $107,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)