Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Cape Girardeau

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 Cape Girardeau 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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1 / 50

#50. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.18
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $48,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 110 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $48,450
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $48,600
- Median hourly wage: $23.36
- Total employment: 70 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $48,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,070
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Total employment: 140 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $49,610
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $49,640
- Median hourly wage: $23.87
- Total employment: 720 people (16.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $49,770
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Total employment: 70 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 400 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,670
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 180 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $51,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 70 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,430
- Median hourly wage: $25.21
- Total employment: 130 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 110 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $55,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Total employment: 210 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $56,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.98
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 70 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $56,270
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 150 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $56,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 60 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $56,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $57,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 110 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 120 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: Not available

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26 / 50

#25. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 350 people (7.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 70 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $58,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 140 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 340 people (7.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 170 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 100 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 210 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 130 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 240 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 90 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $65,360
- Median hourly wage: $31.43
- Total employment: 130 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,680
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 70 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,160
- Median hourly wage: $34.69
- Total employment: 170 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $78,330
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 150 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,330
- Median hourly wage: $39.58
- Total employment: 70 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $97,140
- Median hourly wage: $46.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,000
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 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.