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

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 Elmira 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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Philip Lange // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $48,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.40
- Total employment: 50 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $48,830
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 170 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 130 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $49,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 40 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $49,460
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 200 people (5.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $49,600
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 270 people (8.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 260 people (7.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Mirnes // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 90 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.18
- Total employment: 110 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $52,480
- Median hourly wage: $25.23
- Total employment: 70 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Shift Drive // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,490
- Median hourly wage: $25.24
- Total employment: 120 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,700
- Median hourly wage: $25.34
- Total employment: 150 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,750
- Median hourly wage: $26.32
- Total employment: 40 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $55,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.63
- Total employment: 370 people (10.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 30 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $57,630
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 60 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $58,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.89
- Total employment: 80 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 370 people (10.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $59,320
- Median hourly wage: $28.52
- Total employment: 40 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 80 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 70 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $60,570
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Total employment: 50 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.17
- Total employment: 100 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 50 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 270 people (7.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.84
- Total employment: 40 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 30 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#21. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 120 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 110 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 200 people (5.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 120 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 70 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $67,690
- Median hourly wage: $32.54
- Total employment: 60 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $68,480
- Median hourly wage: $32.93
- Total employment: 60 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 170 people (5.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $70,660
- Median hourly wage: $33.97
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 310 people (9.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 40 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $74,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.60
- Total employment: 560 people (16.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.16
- Total employment: 200 people (6.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 240 people (7.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 120 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,720
- Median hourly wage: $39.77
- Total employment: 160 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $84,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.51
- Total employment: 150 people (4.59 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: $91,000
- Median hourly wage: $43.75
- Total employment: 60 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,960
- Median hourly wage: $46.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $102,370
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.96 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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