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1 / 50#50. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Median annual wage: $58,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 240 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Binghamton
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 Binghamton 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. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 60 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $59,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $60,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 340 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $60,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 80 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $61,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $62,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 400 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $64,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lighthunter // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Medical equipment repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 90 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 120 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,890
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Total employment: 110 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SritanaN // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 250 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $67,630
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 260 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $68,150
- Median hourly wage: $32.77
- Total employment: 790 people (8.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $68,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 590 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $69,010
- Median hourly wage: $33.18
- Total employment: 730 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $69,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 170 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $71,930
- Median hourly wage: $34.58
- Total employment: 340 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 320 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $73,150
- Median hourly wage: $35.17
- Total employment: 170 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Irene Miller // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $73,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 270 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $74,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 160 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $74,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $75,280
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $75,610
- Median hourly wage: $36.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $78,470
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 360 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 390 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $79,840
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 450 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $80,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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lenetstan // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $80,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 220 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 320 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $82,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.83
- Total employment: 100 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $83,270
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $84,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $85,170
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $92,680
- Median hourly wage: $44.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $98,920
- Median hourly wage: $47.56
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $112,140
- Median hourly wage: $53.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $123,580
- Median hourly wage: $59.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 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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