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

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 Lawton 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.

Kzenon // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $47,270
- Median hourly wage: $22.73
- Total employment: 60 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $47,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $47,610
- Median hourly wage: $22.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $48,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.09
- Total employment: 60 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#45. Paralegals and legal assistants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Police and sheriff's patrol officers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 260 people (6.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $49,060
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Total employment: 90 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $49,340
- Median hourly wage: $23.72
- Total employment: 330 people (7.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,430
- Median hourly wage: $23.76
- Total employment: 120 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $49,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Median annual wage: $49,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Total employment: 70 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $50,150
- Median hourly wage: $24.11
- Total employment: 130 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $50,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.23
- Total employment: 140 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.31
- Total employment: 60 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

15 / 50

#34. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping (tie)

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Payroll and timekeeping clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Information and record clerks, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 120 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.48
- Total employment: 160 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,950
- Median hourly wage: $24.50
- Total employment: 210 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,060
- Median hourly wage: $24.55
- Total employment: 500 people (11.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,560
- Median hourly wage: $24.79
- Total employment: 160 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,890
- Median hourly wage: $24.95
- Total employment: 100 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $51,990
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $52,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.14
- Total employment: 70 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $52,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $54,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 440 people (10.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.46
- Total employment: 190 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 80 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 130 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 190 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 200 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 100 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 50 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 80 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 60 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 210 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 40 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $73,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 210 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 240 people (5.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 170 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,520
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $78,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Total employment: 160 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $81,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $89,300
- Median hourly wage: $42.93
- Total employment: 70 people (1.74 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.