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

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 Bloomington 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.

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $51,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#48. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 310 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $52,330
- Median hourly wage: $25.16
- Total employment: 70 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $52,670
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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brizmaker // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $53,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Total employment: 80 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.86
- Total employment: 540 people (7.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 620 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,710
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 370 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 160 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 180 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 250 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 220 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 610 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 200 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 180 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 110 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 220 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 290 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 250 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 410 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#23. Cement masons and concrete finishers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 140 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 120 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 230 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 180 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 150 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 250 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $69,710
- Median hourly wage: $33.52
- Total employment: 250 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,270
- Median hourly wage: $35.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $74,330
- Median hourly wage: $35.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $76,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 70 people (1.02 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: $78,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Total employment: 260 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 530 people (7.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $79,620
- Median hourly wage: $38.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $83,270
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 320 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $88,460
- Median hourly wage: $42.53
- Total employment: 130 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $109,500
- Median hourly wage: $52.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 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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