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

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 Louisville 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.

rlat // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 250 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $64,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 330 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 470 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $65,200
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 880 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 6,590 people (9.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 5,680 people (8.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 260 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 220 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.88
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Louisville area by diners

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 2,490 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $66,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 240 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $68,360
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 980 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $68,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $71,390
- Median hourly wage: $34.32
- Total employment: 2,240 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $71,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.38
- Total employment: 520 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $71,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.38
- Total employment: 130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $71,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 620 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 350 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Louisville

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 180 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $73,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.29
- Total employment: 990 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 4,320 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Louisville

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,020
- Median hourly wage: $36.07
- Total employment: 570 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 260 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 370 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders

- Median annual wage: $75,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.29
- Total employment: 150 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,820
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 1,120 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.62
- Total employment: 3,220 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,650
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 910 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 3,030 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $79,270
- Median hourly wage: $38.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best places to live in the Louisville metro area

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,210
- Median hourly wage: $38.56
- Total employment: 680 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $81,510
- Median hourly wage: $39.19
- Total employment: 630 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $82,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.48
- Total employment: 270 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 290 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $90,210
- Median hourly wage: $43.37
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best high schools in the Louisville metro area

Prath // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,950
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 200 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $95,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $96,010
- Median hourly wage: $46.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $97,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.97
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $98,310
- Median hourly wage: $47.26
- Total employment: 370 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $101,590
- Median hourly wage: $48.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $102,040
- Median hourly wage: $49.06
- Total employment: 1,000 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $105,320
- Median hourly wage: $50.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $106,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.37
- Total employment: 100 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $109,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.3 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.

You may also like: Coat drives near Louisville