Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Atlantic 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 Atlantic 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.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $67,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.63
- Total employment: 250 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $68,030
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 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: $69,020
- Median hourly wage: $33.19
- Total employment: 280 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,070
- Median hourly wage: $33.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 540 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 320 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Scarc // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $71,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

THINK A // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Building cleaning workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $71,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.60
- Total employment: Not available

John Leung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $72,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $72,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 220 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $73,060
- Median hourly wage: $35.13
- Total employment: 520 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 1,090 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 230 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Socrates471 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Audio and video technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 600 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 600 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 340 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 540 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 440 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $80,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $80,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 160 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 350 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 310 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $82,000
- Median hourly wage: $39.43
- Total employment: 380 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $83,230
- Median hourly wage: $40.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Nagaiets // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Lighting technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,340
- Median hourly wage: $40.07
- Total employment: 240 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,230
- Median hourly wage: $40.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $87,790
- Median hourly wage: $42.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $89,990
- Median hourly wage: $43.27
- Total employment: Not available

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $91,230
- Median hourly wage: $43.86
- Total employment: Not available

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $92,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $94,190
- Median hourly wage: $45.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,120
- Median hourly wage: $46.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $97,550
- Median hourly wage: $46.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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mahc // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $97,830
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,880
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 760 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $99,490
- Median hourly wage: $47.83
- Total employment: 180 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $100,470
- Median hourly wage: $48.30
- Total employment: 140 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $100,780
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,140
- Median hourly wage: $49.59
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $111,800
- Median hourly wage: $53.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $122,550
- Median hourly wage: $58.92
- Total employment: 150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $130,650
- Median hourly wage: $62.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $131,340
- Median hourly wage: $63.15
- Total employment: 290 people (1.76 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.