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1 / 50#50. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $69,550
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 790 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Portland, Maine
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 Portland 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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2 / 50#48. Civil engineering technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $69,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 90 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Lodging managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $69,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 320 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $69,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 1,780 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $70,940
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 610 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $71,640
- Median hourly wage: $34.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Median annual wage: $72,170
- Median hourly wage: $34.70
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $73,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.24
- Total employment: 180 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $73,640
- Median hourly wage: $35.40
- Total employment: Not available
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 160 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $75,270
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 320 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 190 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $76,060
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 290 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $76,370
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 450 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $76,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.87
- Total employment: 1,490 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $76,770
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 170 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $77,830
- Median hourly wage: $37.42
- Total employment: 400 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 180 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $78,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Total employment: Not available
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 190 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $79,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 1,520 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lighthunter // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Medical equipment repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,550
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
30 / 50#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 160 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Legal support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,160
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 820 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 1,220 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $80,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.73
- Total employment: 90 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.03
- Total employment: 160 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $86,240
- Median hourly wage: $41.46
- Total employment: 100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $87,910
- Median hourly wage: $42.26
- Total employment: 180 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $87,930
- Median hourly wage: $42.27
- Total employment: 130 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 510 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $91,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $91,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.97
- Total employment: 450 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $92,760
- Median hourly wage: $44.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $93,430
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 190 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $99,480
- Median hourly wage: $47.83
- Total employment: 140 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $100,320
- Median hourly wage: $48.23
- Total employment: 170 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $102,340
- Median hourly wage: $49.20
- Total employment: 800 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Xmentoys // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Calibration technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $104,480
- Median hourly wage: $50.23
- Total employment: Not available
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $146,830
- Median hourly wage: $70.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 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.
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