Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Cedar Rapids

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 Cedar Rapids 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.

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 300 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $62,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 120 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 510 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 230 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 770 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#43. Crane and tower operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: Not available

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 140 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 930 people (6.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Architectural and civil drafters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 110 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $64,050
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 120 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 130 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 1,540 people (11.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $64,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,370
- Median hourly wage: $31.43
- Total employment: 120 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

- Median annual wage: $65,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 1,080 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $66,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $66,850
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 290 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.48
- Total employment: 830 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $70,330
- Median hourly wage: $33.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,830
- Median hourly wage: $34.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $73,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 490 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $74,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 450 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $74,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $75,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 190 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $76,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.61
- Total employment: 510 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 220 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $78,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 870 people (6.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 510 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.69
- Total employment: 160 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,760
- Median hourly wage: $38.83
- Total employment: 1,230 people (8.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $80,910
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 280 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $85,740
- Median hourly wage: $41.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $98,870
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 200 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $99,340
- Median hourly wage: $47.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $101,520
- Median hourly wage: $48.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $109,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.84
- Total employment: 120 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $132,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 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.