Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville 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.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,590
- Median hourly wage: $22.88
- Total employment: 200 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $47,920
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,010
- Median hourly wage: $23.08
- Total employment: 340 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,120
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Total employment: 100 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $48,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- Total employment: 80 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 160 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 130 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.46
- Total employment: 90 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $48,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.49
- Total employment: Not available

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 140 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 140 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 110 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $50,010
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 170 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,820
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- Total employment: 220 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.02
- Total employment: 400 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,170
- Median hourly wage: $25.08
- Total employment: 360 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,130
- Median hourly wage: $25.54
- Total employment: 220 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $53,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 230 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,470
- Median hourly wage: $26.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $54,920
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 140 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,760
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 90 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 150 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 60 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 50 people (0.96 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: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 70 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 380 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.95
- Total employment: 240 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $65,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $67,460
- Median hourly wage: $32.43
- Total employment: 130 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $70,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $77,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 150 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 120 people (2.3 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.