Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Missoula
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 Missoula 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. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 420 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 140 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $58,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 290 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 200 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 220 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 730 people (11.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $58,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 560 people (8.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAYA LAB // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Forest and conservation technicians
- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 380 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 390 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 100 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $60,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 180 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 130 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,570
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Philip Lange // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $60,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 100 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $61,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 210 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $61,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 110 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: Not available
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $61,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 510 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $62,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.88
- Total employment: 70 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#25. Machinists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,780
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food service managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,780
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 140 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 300 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $63,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 240 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $64,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 120 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Hitdelight // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $64,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.17
- Total employment: 90 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 250 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $69,310
- Median hourly wage: $33.32
- Total employment: 110 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $69,730
- Median hourly wage: $33.53
- Total employment: 150 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $73,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 290 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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sculpies // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 430 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 170 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 140 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 90 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $78,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.52
- Total employment: 240 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Bigflick // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $78,850
- Median hourly wage: $37.91
- Total employment: 120 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $79,270
- Median hourly wage: $38.11
- Total employment: 90 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 70 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $95,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 140 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $98,470
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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goodluz // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $104,970
- Median hourly wage: $50.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $107,150
- Median hourly wage: $51.51
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $107,320
- Median hourly wage: $51.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $114,150
- Median hourly wage: $54.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $114,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 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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