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

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 Lima 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: $51,340
- Median hourly wage: $24.68
- Total employment: 100 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $51,390
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Total employment: 70 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Total employment: 90 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 80 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $52,940
- Median hourly wage: $25.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Lima this year

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $53,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Total employment: 120 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $53,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Total employment: 800 people (16.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $54,220
- Median hourly wage: $26.07
- Total employment: 30 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 290 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Lima

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 240 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $56,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 350 people (7.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 120 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 50 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,080
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 470 people (9.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 150 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 190 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#32. Occupational therapy assistants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 60 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 170 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 230 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The highest-value homes in Lima

Kot500 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 210 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 540 people (10.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 220 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Total employment: 110 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 110 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $60,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 130 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 400 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 60 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $62,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 60 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Lima in the last week

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $63,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 190 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $66,800
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 240 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 190 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Coat drives near Lima

SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $70,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.12
- Total employment: 170 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $70,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.12
- Total employment: 80 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $71,110
- Median hourly wage: $34.19
- Total employment: 160 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $71,850
- Median hourly wage: $34.54
- Total employment: 80 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.02
- Total employment: 420 people (8.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Lima by diners

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $77,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.39
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 200 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 60 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Lima October 2025

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $80,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.79
- Total employment: 80 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $82,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 70 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 400 people (8.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $95,690
- Median hourly wage: $46.01
- Total employment: 80 people (1.53 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: Most expensive homes for sale in Lima