Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $53,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Niles
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 Niles 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#49. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $53,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $53,980
- Median hourly wage: $25.95
- Total employment: 150 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $54,170
- Median hourly wage: $26.04
- Total employment: 170 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $54,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 100 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $55,690
- Median hourly wage: $26.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $56,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $57,270
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $57,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 70 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $57,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 210 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 100 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 180 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 130 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 180 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $59,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 80 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 210 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.91
- Total employment: 90 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 420 people (7.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 310 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 90 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 450 people (7.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 70 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $64,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Total employment: 130 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $66,850
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,910
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 530 people (8.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $69,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 340 people (5.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $70,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $71,450
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 210 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $72,960
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 150 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.32
- Total employment: 170 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 290 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $77,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $79,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $79,750
- Median hourly wage: $38.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $80,280
- Median hourly wage: $38.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $96,690
- Median hourly wage: $46.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $97,050
- Median hourly wage: $46.66
- Total employment: 70 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $133,360
- Median hourly wage: $64.11
- Total employment: 130 people (2.19 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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