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

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 Durham 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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1 / 50

#50. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 220 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 200 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

#46. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 160 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 960 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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7 / 50

#44. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 1,860 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 1,560 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $63,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 550 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $64,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 220 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#38. Mechanical drafters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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13 / 50

#38. Lodging managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

#37. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 1,320 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $65,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 180 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 200 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.61
- Total employment: 380 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $66,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: Not available

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19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 2,870 people (8.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 220 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $67,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 540 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $68,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.10
- Total employment: 190 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $69,670
- Median hourly wage: $33.49
- Total employment: 160 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $70,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $72,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 180 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,990
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Total employment: 160 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,050
- Median hourly wage: $35.12
- Total employment: 110 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $73,100
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 1,070 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $74,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 130 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 250 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,200
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: 2,910 people (8.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 390 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 1,150 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: Not available

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38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 1,040 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 450 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,800
- Median hourly wage: $41.25
- Total employment: 200 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $90,090
- Median hourly wage: $43.31
- Total employment: Not available

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42 / 50

#9. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $91,290
- Median hourly wage: $43.89
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $92,310
- Median hourly wage: $44.38
- Total employment: Not available

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44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,770
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: 220 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $98,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.17
- Total employment: 420 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $110,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.97
- Total employment: Not available

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47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $111,470
- Median hourly wage: $53.59
- Total employment: 580 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $114,630
- Median hourly wage: $55.11
- Total employment: 1,050 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $123,840
- Median hourly wage: $59.54
- Total employment: 450 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $161,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 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.