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

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 Pocatello 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.

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $45,160
- Median hourly wage: $21.71
- Total employment: 220 people (5.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $45,340
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $45,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 50 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $46,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.16
- Total employment: 90 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $47,710
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 90 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Virrage Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $47,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Total employment: 80 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $47,820
- Median hourly wage: $22.99
- Total employment: 260 people (6.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Efired // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Bill and account collectors

- Median annual wage: $47,910
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 130 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $48,240
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Total employment: 280 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Philip Lange // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 50 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.35
- Total employment: 150 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $48,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 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: $48,610
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 170 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,680
- Median hourly wage: $23.40
- Total employment: 160 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,910
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 170 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 450 people (11.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $51,090
- Median hourly wage: $24.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $51,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 90 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,950
- Median hourly wage: $24.98
- Total employment: 270 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $54,070
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 80 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $55,320
- Median hourly wage: $26.60
- Total employment: 70 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

- Median annual wage: $55,370
- Median hourly wage: $26.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,400
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 110 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 220 people (5.75 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: $56,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.21
- Total employment: 450 people (12.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Total employment: 70 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 160 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#19. Physical therapist assistants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 160 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 50 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 50 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 130 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 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: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 120 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $69,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 80 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 170 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $71,250
- Median hourly wage: $34.26
- Total employment: 50 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,580
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 140 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 70 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 40 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 110 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $85,360
- Median hourly wage: $41.04
- Total employment: 40 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $87,550
- Median hourly wage: $42.09
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 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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