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

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 Raleigh 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.

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $64,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 610 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 250 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Total employment: 350 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Raleigh

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.61
- Total employment: 6,480 people (8.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $65,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.63
- Total employment: 2,140 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: Not available

lenetstan // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.85
- Total employment: 860 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 960 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 360 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 8,710 people (12.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $67,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Total employment: 1,270 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 170 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,360
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 210 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 660 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,670
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 1,650 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#30. Construction and building inspectors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $73,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 1,500 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $73,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 3,230 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 480 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $76,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Raleigh area by diners

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.82
- Total employment: 650 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 5,780 people (7.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,850
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- Total employment: 840 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 260 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated Cajun restaurants in Raleigh by diners

Vladeep // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $79,280
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 720 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,590
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Total employment: 420 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $80,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $83,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.96
- Total employment: 450 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $83,580
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 490 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $83,790
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $83,820
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Xmentoys // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Calibration technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,130
- Median hourly wage: $40.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $84,290
- Median hourly wage: $40.52
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.53
- Total employment: 740 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $96,850
- Median hourly wage: $46.56
- Total employment: 1,070 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 1,660 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Raleigh

fizkes // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $100,420
- Median hourly wage: $48.28
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $102,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 640 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $105,610
- Median hourly wage: $50.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $106,410
- Median hourly wage: $51.16
- Total employment: 800 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $129,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.24 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.

You may also like: Raleigh's 2025 housing market year in review