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

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 Muncie 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.

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,420
- Median hourly wage: $21.84
- Total employment: 50 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $45,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,840
- Median hourly wage: $22.04
- Total employment: 230 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $46,030
- Median hourly wage: $22.13
- Total employment: 440 people (9.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $46,150
- Median hourly wage: $22.19
- Total employment: 370 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $46,820
- Median hourly wage: $22.51
- Total employment: 220 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Dental assistants

- Median annual wage: $47,340
- Median hourly wage: $22.76
- Total employment: 110 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DedMityay // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Foundry mold and coremakers

- Median annual wage: $48,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.46
- Total employment: 100 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 180 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 210 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $49,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Total employment: 50 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $50,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.14
- Total employment: 60 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.23
- Total employment: 80 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $51,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $53,200
- Median hourly wage: $25.58
- Total employment: 70 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $53,540
- Median hourly wage: $25.74
- Total employment: 180 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $53,640
- Median hourly wage: $25.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $55,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.71
- Total employment: 60 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $56,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 80 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 140 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 100 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $58,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 60 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 120 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 120 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 220 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#19. Production, planning, and expediting clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 50 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 110 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 100 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 340 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 310 people (6.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 180 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 120 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 240 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 310 people (6.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 90 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 620 people (13.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,260
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 60 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $67,790
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 180 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $68,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 270 people (5.97 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: $71,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.26
- Total employment: 160 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $73,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 50 people (1.17 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: $75,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 140 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $90,520
- Median hourly wage: $43.52
- Total employment: 110 people (2.42 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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