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

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 Bismarck 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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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $59,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 370 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $60,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 330 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $60,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 140 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 330 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 500 people (7.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 230 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 130 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 110 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 270 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 130 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 100 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 120 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 230 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 150 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: 210 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 600 people (8.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $64,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $64,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.19
- Total employment: 190 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

photodiem // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 330 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,000
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $68,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $70,010
- Median hourly wage: $33.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,500
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 280 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $71,950
- Median hourly wage: $34.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.75
- Total employment: 100 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 150 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,700
- Median hourly wage: $36.87
- Total employment: 410 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 200 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 200 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,190
- Median hourly wage: $38.07
- Total employment: 230 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,730
- Median hourly wage: $40.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $87,620
- Median hourly wage: $42.12
- Total employment: 120 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santi lumubol // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $88,570
- Median hourly wage: $42.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $90,520
- Median hourly wage: $43.52
- Total employment: 80 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,220
- Median hourly wage: $46.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $133,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 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.