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

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 Rockford 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. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Tree trimmers and pruners

- Median annual wage: $61,570
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $61,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 170 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $61,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 520 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 210 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 1,440 people (10.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.61
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 820 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 160 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 140 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $65,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,520
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 230 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,020
- Median hourly wage: $32.70
- Total employment: 1,080 people (7.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $68,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.95
- Total employment: 190 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Total employment: 200 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $69,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 120 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 180 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 970 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $76,740
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 150 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 500 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 360 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

#17. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 440 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.69
- Total employment: 430 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#12. Millwrights (tie)

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 600 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $82,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 180 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,970
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Total employment: 350 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $85,060
- Median hourly wage: $40.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,450
- Median hourly wage: $41.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $96,740
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 280 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 420 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $100,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $101,030
- Median hourly wage: $48.57
- Total employment: 180 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $102,560
- Median hourly wage: $49.31
- Total employment: 230 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $105,380
- Median hourly wage: $50.67
- Total employment: 120 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $119,440
- Median hourly wage: $57.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.55 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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