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

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 Evansville 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.

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 300 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 150 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 120 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 200 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 180 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 1,360 people (10.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 810 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 950 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 450 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 630 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $62,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: Not available

welcomia // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 180 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 830 people (6.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 90 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 60 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 580 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 310 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 310 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $64,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $64,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ITisha // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $65,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $65,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 110 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mahc // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $67,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $67,510
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 290 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $67,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.63
- Total employment: 520 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $70,510
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 180 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $70,810
- Median hourly wage: $34.04
- Total employment: 160 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $71,660
- Median hourly wage: $34.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 120 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 1,020 people (7.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 120 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $76,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 520 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 1,020 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $79,160
- Median hourly wage: $38.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,340
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 700 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,690
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $79,700
- Median hourly wage: $38.32
- Total employment: 210 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $80,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.72
- Total employment: 220 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 690 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $83,280
- Median hourly wage: $40.04
- Total employment: 210 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $101,360
- Median hourly wage: $48.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $107,000
- Median hourly wage: $51.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $109,460
- Median hourly wage: $52.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 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.