Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Des Moines

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 Des Moines 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. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 2,500 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 4,620 people (11.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $65,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 830 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 280 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $66,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 330 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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manine99 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $67,480
- Median hourly wage: $32.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 3,120 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $67,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,590
- Median hourly wage: $33.46
- Total employment: 1,390 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $70,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.71
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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18 / 50

#33. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,140
- Median hourly wage: $33.72
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.15
- Total employment: 170 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $71,240
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $73,300
- Median hourly wage: $35.24
- Total employment: 290 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $74,210
- Median hourly wage: $35.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $74,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.01
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $75,300
- Median hourly wage: $36.20
- Total employment: 2,630 people (6.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 210 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.13
- Total employment: 2,900 people (7.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $82,000
- Median hourly wage: $39.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

#17. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $84,030
- Median hourly wage: $40.40
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $84,340
- Median hourly wage: $40.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,890
- Median hourly wage: $40.81
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $88,580
- Median hourly wage: $42.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 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: $89,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 840 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $89,290
- Median hourly wage: $42.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $92,920
- Median hourly wage: $44.67
- Total employment: 550 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 520 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $102,200
- Median hourly wage: $49.14
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,000
- Median hourly wage: $49.52
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $107,220
- Median hourly wage: $51.55
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $111,110
- Median hourly wage: $53.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $117,020
- Median hourly wage: $56.26
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $141,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $157,100
- Median hourly wage: $75.53
- Total employment: 330 people (0.8 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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