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

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 Trenton 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.

David Spates // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,690
- Median hourly wage: $34.95
- Total employment: 270 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 960 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,070
- Median hourly wage: $35.13
- Total employment: 370 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $73,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.24
- Total employment: 350 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $73,470
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 260 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,030
- Median hourly wage: $35.59
- Total employment: 220 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $74,710
- Median hourly wage: $35.92
- Total employment: 130 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 830 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 2,690 people (11.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 1,740 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,300
- Median hourly wage: $36.68
- Total employment: 200 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 770 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 520 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $77,520
- Median hourly wage: $37.27
- Total employment: 210 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 320 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $78,330
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,420
- Median hourly wage: $37.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 1,250 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $79,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 100 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,010
- Median hourly wage: $38.95
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 920 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $81,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.05
- Total employment: 710 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.98
- Total employment: 120 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $83,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 250 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $83,510
- Median hourly wage: $40.15
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,740
- Median hourly wage: $40.26
- Total employment: 1,030 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $83,940
- Median hourly wage: $40.35
- Total employment: 600 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,530
- Median hourly wage: $40.64
- Total employment: 160 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,830
- Median hourly wage: $40.78
- Total employment: 190 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,060
- Median hourly wage: $40.89
- Total employment: 650 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,220
- Median hourly wage: $40.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BGStock72 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,410
- Median hourly wage: $41.54
- Total employment: 60 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $88,970
- Median hourly wage: $42.78
- Total employment: 370 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $91,040
- Median hourly wage: $43.77
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $91,920
- Median hourly wage: $44.19
- Total employment: 120 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,260
- Median hourly wage: $46.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $96,950
- Median hourly wage: $46.61
- Total employment: 320 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 120 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $100,390
- Median hourly wage: $48.26
- Total employment: 480 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $101,010
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 250 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $102,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.13
- Total employment: 680 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $107,290
- Median hourly wage: $51.58
- Total employment: 420 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $108,730
- Median hourly wage: $52.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $128,570
- Median hourly wage: $61.81
- Total employment: 390 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $148,270
- Median hourly wage: $71.29
- Total employment: 250 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $160,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.26 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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