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

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 Dubuque 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. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $51,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 550 people (9.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $52,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $53,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 70 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,110
- Median hourly wage: $26.01
- Total employment: 260 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vitpho // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $54,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 1,460 people (24.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $54,860
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.98
- Total employment: 220 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $56,370
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $57,390
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 280 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 290 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 150 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 200 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 120 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 130 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 270 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,790
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 160 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 140 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Philip Lange // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $60,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 120 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 240 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 120 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 470 people (7.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 90 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 250 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 100 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $63,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,780
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 200 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.80
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 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: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 670 people (11.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 100 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $67,410
- Median hourly wage: $32.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 150 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 510 people (8.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,890
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 60 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 190 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 190 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,540
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 320 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 100 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $103,120
- Median hourly wage: $49.58
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,490
- Median hourly wage: $52.16
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 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.