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

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 Elizabethtown 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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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $49,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 100 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $49,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $50,170
- Median hourly wage: $24.12
- Total employment: 500 people (9.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 720 people (13.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,470
- Median hourly wage: $24.27
- Total employment: 110 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $50,660
- Median hourly wage: $24.36
- Total employment: 120 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Shift Drive // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 260 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 170 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $51,970
- Median hourly wage: $24.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,530
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $53,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.49
- Total employment: 420 people (8.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DGLimages // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Healthcare support workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping (tie)

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 240 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 90 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $55,650
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 420 people (8.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 130 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 80 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $56,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 110 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $56,450
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 140 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $57,290
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 80 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 50 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,970
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 50 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 220 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#19. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 190 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 450 people (8.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 60 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 180 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,870
- Median hourly wage: $31.67
- Total employment: 300 people (5.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $67,010
- Median hourly wage: $32.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,310
- Median hourly wage: $32.36
- Total employment: 60 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,530
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 230 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,260
- Median hourly wage: $32.82
- Total employment: Not available

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $72,630
- Median hourly wage: $34.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 180 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 80 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $75,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.52
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $86,900
- Median hourly wage: $41.78
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $92,240
- Median hourly wage: $44.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 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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