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

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 Chicago 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. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.51
- Total employment: 4,120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.52
- Total employment: 3,740 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,900
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 4,040 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $83,770
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $83,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 330 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $84,610
- Median hourly wage: $40.68
- Total employment: 340 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $85,400
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 4,810 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: Not available

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10 / 50

#41. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

- Median annual wage: $85,560
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: 110 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Nordroden // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $86,300
- Median hourly wage: $41.49
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $86,330
- Median hourly wage: $41.51
- Total employment: 2,480 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $88,290
- Median hourly wage: $42.45
- Total employment: 10,560 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,090
- Median hourly wage: $42.83
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 12,560 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $89,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.25
- Total employment: 2,570 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $90,020
- Median hourly wage: $43.28
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Onk-Q // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.81
- Total employment: 80 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $95,010
- Median hourly wage: $45.68
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $97,110
- Median hourly wage: $46.69
- Total employment: 1,940 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $97,970
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 3,080 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $98,030
- Median hourly wage: $47.13
- Total employment: 6,420 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Median annual wage: $98,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $98,890
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 14,230 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $99,540
- Median hourly wage: $47.86
- Total employment: 16,690 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $100,420
- Median hourly wage: $48.28
- Total employment: 2,450 people (0.55 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: $101,200
- Median hourly wage: $48.66
- Total employment: 7,760 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $101,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.69
- Total employment: Not available

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30 / 50

#21. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $102,370
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 2,170 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $102,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 2,640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $103,170
- Median hourly wage: $49.60
- Total employment: 500 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 600 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $104,790
- Median hourly wage: $50.38
- Total employment: 14,730 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $104,810
- Median hourly wage: $50.39
- Total employment: 630 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $106,360
- Median hourly wage: $51.13
- Total employment: 570 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $106,510
- Median hourly wage: $51.21
- Total employment: 660 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,180
- Median hourly wage: $52.01
- Total employment: 9,320 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $108,650
- Median hourly wage: $52.24
- Total employment: 410 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $108,890
- Median hourly wage: $52.35
- Total employment: 23,340 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $109,870
- Median hourly wage: $52.82
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $112,230
- Median hourly wage: $53.96
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $114,030
- Median hourly wage: $54.82
- Total employment: 2,140 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

motodan // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Hoist and winch operators

- Median annual wage: $116,120
- Median hourly wage: $55.83
- Total employment: 290 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $120,360
- Median hourly wage: $57.87
- Total employment: Not available

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46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $129,360
- Median hourly wage: $62.19
- Total employment: 1,470 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $136,440
- Median hourly wage: $65.60
- Total employment: 4,190 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $141,380
- Median hourly wage: $67.97
- Total employment: 720 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $160,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 640 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $184,930
- Median hourly wage: $88.91
- Total employment: 840 people (0.19 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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