Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Jefferson City

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 Jefferson City 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.

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 180 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $49,210
- Median hourly wage: $23.66
- Total employment: 180 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $49,350
- Median hourly wage: $23.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $49,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Total employment: 120 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Total employment: 360 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $50,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Total employment: 490 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $50,880
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 370 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,970
- Median hourly wage: $24.99
- Total employment: 100 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $52,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 110 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $54,560
- Median hourly wage: $26.23
- Total employment: 510 people (6.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $54,940
- Median hourly wage: $26.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.62
- Total employment: 150 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $55,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.67
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $55,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.87
- Total employment: 350 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 220 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 110 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $56,630
- Median hourly wage: $27.23
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,050
- Median hourly wage: $27.43
- Total employment: 340 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Umomos // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 530 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $58,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 740 people (9.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,690
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 190 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 710 people (9.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,690
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 80 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 160 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Jefferson City

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 150 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 420 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 480 people (6.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $63,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,330
- Median hourly wage: $32.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $69,990
- Median hourly wage: $33.65
- Total employment: 100 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,660
- Median hourly wage: $33.97
- Total employment: 180 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,640
- Median hourly wage: $35.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 290 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 350 people (4.55 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: $80,380
- Median hourly wage: $38.64
- Total employment: 340 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,650
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Coat drives near Jefferson City

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,760
- Median hourly wage: $38.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $86,080
- Median hourly wage: $41.38
- Total employment: 310 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $90,320
- Median hourly wage: $43.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $93,020
- Median hourly wage: $44.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $99,650
- Median hourly wage: $47.91
- Total employment: 270 people (3.49 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.