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

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

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 Dayton 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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#50. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

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1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 2,680 people (7.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Surgical technologists

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2 / 50

#49. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $62,680
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 260 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 320 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Hearing aid specialists

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4 / 50

#47. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

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#45. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: Not available

#44. Computer network support specialists

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7 / 50

#44. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 500 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

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#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 850 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons

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9 / 50

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Mechanical drafters

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11 / 50

#40. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 140 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Sheet metal workers

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#39. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 360 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Physical therapist assistants

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13 / 50

#38. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 540 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

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14 / 50

#37. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 250 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.67
- Total employment: 1,950 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: 130 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Occupational therapy assistants

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17 / 50

#34. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 230 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

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#33. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 190 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Transportation security screeners

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#32. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $66,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.88
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#30. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

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21 / 50

#30. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,420
- Median hourly wage: $34.82
- Total employment: 200 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 3,190 people (8.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

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23 / 50

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $74,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

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24 / 50

#27. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 230 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $76,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 260 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 1,210 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

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#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 1,500 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

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29 / 50

#22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 250 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Construction and building inspectors

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30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $77,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

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31 / 50

#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,530
- Median hourly wage: $37.76
- Total employment: 800 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Electrical and electronics drafters

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32 / 50

#19. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $78,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,010
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Dental hygienists

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34 / 50

#17. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,120
- Median hourly wage: $38.52
- Total employment: 660 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Fire inspectors and investigators

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35 / 50

#16. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,690
- Median hourly wage: $38.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 280 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

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37 / 50

#14. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 160 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

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38 / 50

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $82,700
- Median hourly wage: $39.76
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Respiratory therapists

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39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,780
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 520 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Diagnostic medical sonographers

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40 / 50

#11. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $83,820
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 280 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Crane and tower operators

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41 / 50

#10. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 90 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

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42 / 50

#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $86,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.54
- Total employment: 110 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

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43 / 50

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,140
- Median hourly wage: $42.37
- Total employment: 230 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Radiation therapists

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44 / 50

#7. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $89,710
- Median hourly wage: $43.13
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

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46 / 50

#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,870
- Median hourly wage: $46.57
- Total employment: 400 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,470
- Median hourly wage: $46.86
- Total employment: 530 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Commercial pilots

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50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $163,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 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.

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