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

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 Kingston 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.

Kzenon // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $56,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 140 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $57,070
- Median hourly wage: $27.44
- Total employment: 80 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vitpho // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 550 people (9.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 270 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 100 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 290 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 290 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $60,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 200 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 110 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 130 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rido // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 150 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 120 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mahc // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 70 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 190 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 120 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $63,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 360 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 90 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 200 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 460 people (7.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $64,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $65,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $65,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 280 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $65,260
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,300
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 370 people (6.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.63
- Total employment: 90 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.23
- Total employment: 90 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 250 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $67,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $68,740
- Median hourly wage: $33.05
- Total employment: 420 people (7.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $71,720
- Median hourly wage: $34.48
- Total employment: 160 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $72,060
- Median hourly wage: $34.64
- Total employment: 90 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.25
- Total employment: 340 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 90 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 210 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.02
- Total employment: 230 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $80,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 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: $80,600
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Total employment: 220 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $86,600
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 80 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $90,720
- Median hourly wage: $43.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $93,750
- Median hourly wage: $45.07
- Total employment: 70 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $96,190
- Median hourly wage: $46.24
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 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: $111,480
- Median hourly wage: $53.60
- Total employment: 90 people (1.51 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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