Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Sioux City

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 Sioux City 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.

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Sioux City

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $53,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.91
- Total employment: 190 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $55,100
- Median hourly wage: $26.49
- Total employment: 1,000 people (13.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $56,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $56,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.25
- Total employment: 140 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Sioux City

4 PM production // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 140 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 160 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 190 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 230 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $58,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,130
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 190 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 470 people (6.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 300 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 250 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 190 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 340 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 120 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Sioux City's 2025 housing market year in review

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $60,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 90 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 160 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 140 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $62,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 290 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 80 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Sioux City this year

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,950
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 850 people (11.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $66,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $67,110
- Median hourly wage: $32.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 340 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,800
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Sioux City

welcomia // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $74,660
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 160 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 440 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 200 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 660 people (8.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Sioux City

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,380
- Median hourly wage: $40.09
- Total employment: 330 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,710
- Median hourly wage: $44.57
- Total employment: 100 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $93,800
- Median hourly wage: $45.09
- Total employment: 80 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $100,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $106,060
- Median hourly wage: $50.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 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.