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

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 Youngstown 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.

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 450 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 370 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 920 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 310 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $57,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 1,120 people (6.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 700 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ArtSvetlana // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 1,330 people (8.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 560 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 370 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 910 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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John Leung // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 140 people (0.86 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: $59,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 990 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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18 / 50

#33. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 520 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 350 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $60,130
- Median hourly wage: $28.91
- Total employment: 220 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $60,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 330 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 160 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 490 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $62,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 140 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 180 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $64,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 90 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 1,540 people (9.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,710
- Median hourly wage: $33.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,290
- Median hourly wage: $33.79
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.17
- Total employment: 670 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,150
- Median hourly wage: $34.69
- Total employment: 630 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 240 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $72,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 200 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $73,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 260 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,270
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $76,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 230 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $78,200
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 90 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $79,280
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 220 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,120
- Median hourly wage: $38.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $95,440
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 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.