Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in St. Cloud

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 St. Cloud 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.

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 240 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 630 people (6.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 400 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 320 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 80 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 180 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $65,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 140 people (1.32 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: $65,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Total employment: 1,150 people (11.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 160 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 330 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $66,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $68,330
- Median hourly wage: $32.85
- Total employment: 110 people (1.07 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: $68,520
- Median hourly wage: $32.94
- Total employment: 820 people (7.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,590
- Median hourly wage: $32.97
- Total employment: 390 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $68,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $70,720
- Median hourly wage: $34.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $71,090
- Median hourly wage: $34.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $71,610
- Median hourly wage: $34.43
- Total employment: 80 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.57
- Total employment: 590 people (5.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $72,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $73,300
- Median hourly wage: $35.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $73,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $74,280
- Median hourly wage: $35.71
- Total employment: 150 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 310 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 210 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 150 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,150
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $78,370
- Median hourly wage: $37.68
- Total employment: 590 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GolF2532 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $78,660
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $80,360
- Median hourly wage: $38.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.96
- Total employment: 350 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $82,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $83,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,220
- Median hourly wage: $40.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $83,380
- Median hourly wage: $40.09
- Total employment: 800 people (7.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $85,060
- Median hourly wage: $40.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $87,200
- Median hourly wage: $41.92
- Total employment: 680 people (6.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,230
- Median hourly wage: $44.82
- Total employment: 550 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,380
- Median hourly wage: $45.38
- Total employment: 100 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $95,270
- Median hourly wage: $45.81
- Total employment: 230 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $95,440
- Median hourly wage: $45.88
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $101,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $113,090
- Median hourly wage: $54.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 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.