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 Columbia 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- Median annual wage: $55,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.86
- Total employment: 270 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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2 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.01
- Total employment: 640 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 220 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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5 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 120 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,310
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,690
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 120 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 370 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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13 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 300 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 500 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,410
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 130 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 730 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 160 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 260 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 120 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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27 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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28 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 1,030 people (9.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 260 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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30 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 50 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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32 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 210 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 400 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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34 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 150 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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35 / 50- Median annual wage: $68,460
- Median hourly wage: $32.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,710
- Median hourly wage: $33.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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37 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,740
- Median hourly wage: $33.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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38 / 50- Median annual wage: $71,050
- Median hourly wage: $34.16
- Total employment: 320 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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39 / 50- Median annual wage: $72,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 250 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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40 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 250 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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42 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,630
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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43 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 260 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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45 / 50- Median annual wage: $80,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 80 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,000
- Median hourly wage: $39.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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47 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,300
- Median hourly wage: $39.57
- Total employment: 80 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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48 / 50- Median annual wage: $85,170
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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49 / 50- Median annual wage: $88,400
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 110 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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50 / 50- Median annual wage: $98,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 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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