Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $56,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 410 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Shreveport
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 Shreveport 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: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Shreveport by diners
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $56,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 440 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $57,040
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 1,790 people (11.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Tex-Mex restaurants in Shreveport by diners
SatawatK // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 250 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $58,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 770 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Logging equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $58,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $58,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 330 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Shreveport
welcomia // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 290 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 330 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Shreveport
pio3 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 1,420 people (8.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 130 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 150 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $61,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 1,770 people (11.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 190 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Shreveport by diners
Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 330 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 950 people (5.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Shreveport
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $64,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 170 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,360
- Median hourly wage: $31.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Shreveport 7-day weather forecast
SritanaN // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $66,920
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 560 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $67,260
- Median hourly wage: $32.34
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $67,360
- Median hourly wage: $32.38
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,460
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $71,160
- Median hourly wage: $34.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Shreveport buyers
4 PM production // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $71,390
- Median hourly wage: $34.32
- Total employment: 970 people (6.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,150
- Median hourly wage: $34.69
- Total employment: 640 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $73,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.29
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $74,580
- Median hourly wage: $35.86
- Total employment: 330 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $77,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Shreveport metro area
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 460 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 250 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
HannaTor // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $79,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Shreveport for high school graduates
anatoliy_gleb // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Derrick operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 90 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $87,820
- Median hourly wage: $42.22
- Total employment: 300 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $90,380
- Median hourly wage: $43.45
- Total employment: 140 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $95,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 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: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Shreveport
