Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Burlington, North Carolina

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 Burlington 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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SritanaN // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $48,270
- Median hourly wage: $23.21
- Total employment: 340 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.43
- Total employment: 80 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.43
- Total employment: 240 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 80 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 230 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#43. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $49,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 150 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $49,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 840 people (12.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $49,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.69
- Total employment: 180 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $50,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.23
- Total employment: 100 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,690
- Median hourly wage: $24.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

- Median annual wage: $50,870
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $51,100
- Median hourly wage: $24.57
- Total employment: 310 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 250 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,670
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 230 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,150
- Median hourly wage: $26.03
- Total employment: 170 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $54,880
- Median hourly wage: $26.39
- Total employment: 90 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,400
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 310 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $56,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 180 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 70 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $57,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 170 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $57,670
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 540 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 90 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 400 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 580 people (8.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 100 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 530 people (7.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $63,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $65,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 340 people (5.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,160
- Median hourly wage: $32.29
- Total employment: 340 people (5.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $67,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.48
- Total employment: 350 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,870
- Median hourly wage: $33.11
- Total employment: 110 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,000
- Median hourly wage: $33.17
- Total employment: 250 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,200
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 90 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,780
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $90,790
- Median hourly wage: $43.65
- Total employment: 120 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $95,000
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $96,130
- Median hourly wage: $46.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $98,500
- Median hourly wage: $47.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 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.