Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Idaho Falls

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 Idaho Falls 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.

Vitpho // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $54,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 1,680 people (20.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $55,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $55,110
- Median hourly wage: $26.50
- Total employment: 100 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $55,160
- Median hourly wage: $26.52
- Total employment: 240 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 330 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.27
- Total employment: 260 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 820 people (10.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $57,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 80 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $57,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Shift Drive // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 250 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 330 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 90 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 110 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 170 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $59,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 110 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 280 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 500 people (6.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 790 people (9.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 220 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 440 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: Not available

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28 / 50

#23. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,370
- Median hourly wage: $31.91
- Total employment: 210 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $67,150
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 200 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $71,340
- Median hourly wage: $34.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $73,940
- Median hourly wage: $35.55
- Total employment: 200 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,490
- Median hourly wage: $35.81
- Total employment: 550 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 250 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,980
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 320 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,100
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 90 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $79,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 500 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $81,360
- Median hourly wage: $39.12
- Total employment: 210 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,030
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 200 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $83,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $84,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.40
- Total employment: 130 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $87,700
- Median hourly wage: $42.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $92,500
- Median hourly wage: $44.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,710
- Median hourly wage: $44.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $93,790
- Median hourly wage: $45.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

- Median annual wage: $95,440
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 140 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $105,810
- Median hourly wage: $50.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 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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