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

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 Houma 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.

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,920
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 420 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $52,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 280 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $53,940
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 530 people (6.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.99
- Total employment: 200 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 820 people (9.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $54,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.39
- Total employment: 640 people (7.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $54,950
- Median hourly wage: $26.42
- Total employment: 510 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,190
- Median hourly wage: $26.53
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $55,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.63
- Total employment: 170 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 1,440 people (17.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 90 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,560
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 550 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 160 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#33. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Sheet metal workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 150 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 1,030 people (12.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 130 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 310 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 420 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 310 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 730 people (8.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 680 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 110 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,070
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 130 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,940
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 490 people (5.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $72,500
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 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: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 550 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 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: $75,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 130 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,280
- Median hourly wage: $36.68
- Total employment: 150 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $76,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $77,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $77,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,970
- Median hourly wage: $38.93
- Total employment: 110 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 100 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $101,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Total employment: 1,760 people (21.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,540
- Median hourly wage: $50.74
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $107,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (2.38 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.