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

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 Bend 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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1 / 50

#50. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: Not available

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2 / 50

#49. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 320 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 310 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 / 50

#47. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 220 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

#46. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 100 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 1,350 people (12.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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8 / 50

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 570 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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9 / 50

#42. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

#40. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,740
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 150 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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13 / 50

#38. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 840 people (7.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $65,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 90 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 460 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $65,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,700
- Median hourly wage: $31.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 250 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $67,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,070
- Median hourly wage: $32.73
- Total employment: 690 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $68,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $68,530
- Median hourly wage: $32.95
- Total employment: 80 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,530
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#25. Photographers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Property, real estate, and community association managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 130 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $75,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 170 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.70
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 370 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 60 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $79,040
- Median hourly wage: $38.00
- Total employment: 150 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $79,600
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 310 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $79,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 150 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,750
- Median hourly wage: $38.82
- Total employment: 600 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $82,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 190 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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38 / 50

#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $82,920
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Total employment: 130 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,220
- Median hourly wage: $40.49
- Total employment: 520 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,330
- Median hourly wage: $41.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $90,480
- Median hourly wage: $43.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $93,160
- Median hourly wage: $44.79
- Total employment: 190 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $94,740
- Median hourly wage: $45.55
- Total employment: 280 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $96,880
- Median hourly wage: $46.58
- Total employment: 150 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $103,320
- Median hourly wage: $49.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $104,670
- Median hourly wage: $50.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $112,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $118,580
- Median hourly wage: $57.01
- Total employment: 240 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $120,080
- Median hourly wage: $57.73
- Total employment: 110 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $123,500
- Median hourly wage: $59.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 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.