Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Asheville
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 Asheville 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. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 350 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 1,560 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $59,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 140 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 150 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 1,680 people (8.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 260 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 130 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $60,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gearstd // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 120 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $61,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 260 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anze Furlan // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prath // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 510 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $62,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 230 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 480 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#30. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 800 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,260
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 480 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 170 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 360 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 610 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: Not available
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $63,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 100 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAYA LAB // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Forest and conservation technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $67,160
- Median hourly wage: $32.29
- Total employment: 1,180 people (6.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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lenetstan // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.78
- Total employment: 360 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $68,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 860 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $68,840
- Median hourly wage: $33.10
- Total employment: 810 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $73,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $74,420
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 260 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $76,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.88
- Total employment: Not available
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
44 / 50#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 120 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,610
- Median hourly wage: $39.23
- Total employment: 170 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $88,500
- Median hourly wage: $42.55
- Total employment: 200 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $95,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 350 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $103,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 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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