Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Bowling Green

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 Bowling Green 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.

Vitpho // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $51,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 1,500 people (18.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $51,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.72
- Total employment: 450 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $51,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.99
- Total employment: 470 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,700
- Median hourly wage: $25.34
- Total employment: 80 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,300
- Median hourly wage: $25.63
- Total employment: 270 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,600
- Median hourly wage: $25.77
- Total employment: 200 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 440 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $56,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $56,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 230 people (2.86 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: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 310 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $57,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 90 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $57,830
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 150 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 670 people (8.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 740 people (9.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 200 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $58,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 60 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 260 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 120 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 290 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 300 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,230
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 130 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $61,260
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 280 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 120 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 140 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 130 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 210 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 160 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $66,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Total employment: 320 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.11
- Total employment: 340 people (4.21 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: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 720 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 590 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $72,200
- Median hourly wage: $34.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $74,420
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 120 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SofikoS // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $76,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,710
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $80,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.93
- Total employment: 60 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: $82,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Total employment: 70 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $88,230
- Median hourly wage: $42.42
- Total employment: 90 people (1.11 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.