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1 / 50#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $52,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 90 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Joplin
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 Joplin 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. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $52,100
- Median hourly wage: $25.05
- Total employment: 240 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $52,350
- Median hourly wage: $25.17
- Total employment: 290 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 50#47. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $53,710
- Median hourly wage: $25.82
- Total employment: 370 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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5 / 50#46. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 990 people (11.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 50#44. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $55,610
- Median hourly wage: $26.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 50#43. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $56,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 140 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $56,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 50#41. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $56,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.25
- Total employment: 100 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 380 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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13 / 50#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,290
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 390 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $57,310
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 600 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50#36. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 360 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 860 people (9.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 220 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50#33. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $58,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.15
- Total employment: Not available
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21 / 50#30. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50#29. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $58,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 180 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50#27. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $59,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 140 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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28 / 50#23. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 70 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50#22. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 120 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 220 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#19. Food service managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Structural iron and steel workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 390 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 160 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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35 / 50#16. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 200 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 770 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 160 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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40 / 50#11. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 410 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 120 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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43 / 50#8. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 360 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $74,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.62
- Total employment: 390 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $80,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.81
- Total employment: 100 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $94,660
- Median hourly wage: $45.51
- Total employment: 100 people (1.21 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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