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

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 Flint 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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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $58,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 110 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $58,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Total employment: 110 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 490 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $58,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 640 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,780
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 450 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $58,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 240 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 330 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 370 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 890 people (6.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 500 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

- Median annual wage: $61,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 400 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 220 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 90 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 950 people (7.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 270 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 560 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 280 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 90 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $64,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 650 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.24
- Total employment: 460 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $67,110
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $67,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 170 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,900
- Median hourly wage: $32.64
- Total employment: 200 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $68,020
- Median hourly wage: $32.70
- Total employment: 120 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $70,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $70,530
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $72,770
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,940
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 80 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $74,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 450 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 440 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $75,100
- Median hourly wage: $36.11
- Total employment: 150 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 920 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 120 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dental hygienists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 400 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $78,840
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 780 people (5.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $81,810
- Median hourly wage: $39.33
- Total employment: 380 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,660
- Median hourly wage: $39.74
- Total employment: 110 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $84,180
- Median hourly wage: $40.47
- Total employment: 670 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,740
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,610
- Median hourly wage: $46.93
- Total employment: 240 people (1.83 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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