Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Lincoln

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 Lincoln 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. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 150 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 1,050 people (5.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 1,820 people (10.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 470 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Toa55 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: Not available

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7 / 50

#44. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 420 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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8 / 50

#43. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 120 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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9 / 50

#42. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $62,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 400 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 110 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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13 / 50

#38. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $63,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $63,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 490 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 220 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GolF2532 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $64,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 1,000 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 300 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 110 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 230 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,950
- Median hourly wage: $31.71
- Total employment: 230 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $66,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 240 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $69,260
- Median hourly wage: $33.30
- Total employment: 100 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 1,170 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 700 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $73,660
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 640 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 400 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 160 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,560
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 1,010 people (5.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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38 / 50

#13. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $77,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.19
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $79,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.10
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $82,360
- Median hourly wage: $39.60
- Total employment: 90 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $82,370
- Median hourly wage: $39.60
- Total employment: 90 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $83,830
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 510 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $85,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 330 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $88,110
- Median hourly wage: $42.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,840
- Median hourly wage: $43.19
- Total employment: 130 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $91,140
- Median hourly wage: $43.82
- Total employment: 190 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $92,610
- Median hourly wage: $44.52
- Total employment: 500 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 4,700 people (25.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $99,090
- Median hourly wage: $47.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $111,170
- Median hourly wage: $53.45
- Total employment: 130 people (0.69 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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