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

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 Monroe 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.

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Monroe

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $47,150
- Median hourly wage: $22.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.90
- Total employment: 220 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 110 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $48,580
- Median hourly wage: $23.36
- Total employment: 410 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $48,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.43
- Total employment: 100 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Monroe

DuxX // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $48,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#43. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $50,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.18
- Total employment: 280 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $50,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Total employment: 260 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,950
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 1,080 people (12.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Monroe

Jat306 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,550
- Median hourly wage: $25.27
- Total employment: 590 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#37. Food service managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.43
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Office and administrative support workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 250 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $53,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.49
- Total employment: 1,250 people (14.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Monroe

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $53,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.50
- Total employment: 90 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $53,380
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,550
- Median hourly wage: $25.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 220 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.50
- Total employment: 160 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Monroe

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $55,200
- Median hourly wage: $26.54
- Total employment: 290 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 470 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $57,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 160 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 130 people (1.54 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: $60,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 740 people (8.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 80 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Monroe 7-day weather forecast

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 440 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 90 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 190 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $66,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,230
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Monroe's 2025 housing market year in review

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $69,800
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 190 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $73,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,470
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $73,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.61
- Total employment: 450 people (5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 170 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.69 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: Where people in Monroe are looking to buy homes