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

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 Alexandria 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. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $48,170
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 170 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 90 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,910
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 230 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $49,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.66
- Total employment: 80 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $49,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,470
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $50,620
- Median hourly wage: $24.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,850
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 620 people (10.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $51,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 690 people (11.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $51,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,530
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 70 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,460
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 190 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $53,330
- Median hourly wage: $25.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 180 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 100 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 440 people (7.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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XiXinXing // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,410
- Median hourly wage: $28.08
- Total employment: 90 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $58,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 90 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Forest and conservation technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 210 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 60 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 160 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 430 people (7.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $61,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 120 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 200 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 60 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.29
- Total employment: 350 people (5.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.83
- Total employment: 360 people (6.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $66,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.90
- Total employment: 160 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $69,250
- Median hourly wage: $33.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,710
- Median hourly wage: $34.48
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $73,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 110 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 290 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $79,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,630
- Median hourly wage: $38.28
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $80,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 140 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $81,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Total employment: 400 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $86,210
- Median hourly wage: $41.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $99,760
- Median hourly wage: $47.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $103,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 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.