Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $56,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.37
- Total employment: 160 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Gulfport
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 Gulfport 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. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $57,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 140 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Logging equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $58,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 200 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 320 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 240 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 120 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $60,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 2,030 people (12.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $61,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 650 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 430 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $61,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 2,400 people (15.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $61,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 1,360 people (8.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 340 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 250 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 590 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 340 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 310 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $64,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 220 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 370 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Total employment: 210 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,880
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 210 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $69,540
- Median hourly wage: $33.43
- Total employment: 820 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $71,280
- Median hourly wage: $34.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 1,330 people (8.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,980
- Median hourly wage: $36.53
- Total employment: 320 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $76,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.93
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,710
- Median hourly wage: $37.84
- Total employment: 1,030 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $79,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: Not available
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $79,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 280 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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anyaivanova // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $80,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.66
- Total employment: 280 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $81,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $82,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $82,570
- Median hourly wage: $39.70
- Total employment: 230 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $87,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Print binding and finishing workers
- Median annual wage: $95,160
- Median hourly wage: $45.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $95,890
- Median hourly wage: $46.10
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
HannaTor // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $98,430
- Median hourly wage: $47.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $100,090
- Median hourly wage: $48.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $107,700
- Median hourly wage: $51.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 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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