Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Jackson, Michigan

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 Jackson 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.

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,690
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: 110 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $50,040
- Median hourly wage: $24.06
- Total employment: 90 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vagengeim // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Dental laboratory technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,100
- Median hourly wage: $24.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,420
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,900
- Median hourly wage: $24.47
- Total employment: 710 people (12.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,120
- Median hourly wage: $25.06
- Total employment: 80 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $55,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 180 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 160 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 310 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $57,250
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. Paralegals and legal assistants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Property, real estate, and community association managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 120 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 70 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Total employment: 180 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Jackson, Michigan

David Spates // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 160 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 130 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $61,230
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 260 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 220 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,050
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 140 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 180 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 390 people (7.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $65,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $66,080
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: 230 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 410 people (7.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $67,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Jackson, Michigan

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 120 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,230
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 210 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: Not available

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $71,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,050
- Median hourly wage: $34.64
- Total employment: 610 people (10.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,290
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 430 people (7.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $80,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 220 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 110 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,170
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 250 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,840
- Median hourly wage: $39.83
- Total employment: 70 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $93,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.94
- Total employment: 100 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,300
- Median hourly wage: $46.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 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.