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

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 Kankakee 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. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $46,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $47,160
- Median hourly wage: $22.68
- Total employment: 190 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $47,350
- Median hourly wage: $22.76
- Total employment: 250 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 190 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $51,390
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Total employment: 190 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $51,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $52,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 50 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 150 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 120 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $54,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.16
- Total employment: 30 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $55,030
- Median hourly wage: $26.46
- Total employment: 550 people (12.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 110 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,300
- Median hourly wage: $27.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $57,780
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 80 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 150 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,670
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 240 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 70 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $60,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 90 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 110 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 70 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 380 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 210 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 110 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $63,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Total employment: 260 people (6.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 60 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.45
- Total employment: 280 people (6.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $68,380
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $70,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.79
- Total employment: 120 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $71,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.19
- Total employment: 200 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $71,150
- Median hourly wage: $34.21
- Total employment: 100 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,100
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 130 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 70 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $78,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $81,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.37
- Total employment: 60 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $82,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 120 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $87,270
- Median hourly wage: $41.96
- Total employment: 120 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $90,590
- Median hourly wage: $43.55
- Total employment: 90 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,060
- Median hourly wage: $46.18
- Total employment: 110 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)