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

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 Peoria 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.

You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Peoria metro area

welcomia // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 940 people (5.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $63,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 1,090 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best public high schools in the Peoria metro area

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $64,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: 710 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $65,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 130 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Peoria?

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,890
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Total employment: 270 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $67,530
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 1,060 people (6.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $68,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 220 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,190
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 360 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $70,610
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 190 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.61
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,630
- Median hourly wage: $34.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Coat drives near Peoria

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,640
- Median hourly wage: $34.92
- Total employment: 180 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 140 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $74,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.58
- Total employment: 260 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $74,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.81
- Total employment: 240 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $74,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 520 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 240 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 190 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $76,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.93
- Total employment: 610 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $77,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 860 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $78,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 120 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $80,840
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 570 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 560 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $82,440
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $84,160
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 350 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Peoria

John Leung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 200 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $86,810
- Median hourly wage: $41.73
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $87,160
- Median hourly wage: $41.91
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $87,730
- Median hourly wage: $42.18
- Total employment: 820 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,980
- Median hourly wage: $43.26
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The highest-value homes in Peoria

SofikoS // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $91,250
- Median hourly wage: $43.87
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $95,060
- Median hourly wage: $45.70
- Total employment: 90 people (0.56 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: $96,040
- Median hourly wage: $46.17
- Total employment: 700 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $112,180
- Median hourly wage: $53.94
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $120,240
- Median hourly wage: $57.81
- Total employment: 380 people (2.27 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.

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Peoria