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

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 Corvallis 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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Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $49,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.61
- Total employment: 60 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $49,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Total employment: 130 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $49,580
- Median hourly wage: $23.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 110 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $50,240
- Median hourly wage: $24.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $50,730
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 40 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAYA LAB // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Forest and conservation technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.40
- Total employment: 50 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $51,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $51,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 80 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Dental assistants

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 100 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,810
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 60 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 90 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $54,600
- Median hourly wage: $26.25
- Total employment: 60 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,700
- Median hourly wage: $26.78
- Total employment: 150 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $55,750
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $56,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 80 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 80 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 200 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 130 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 50 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 200 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 110 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 110 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 230 people (6.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 100 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 260 people (6.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $67,430
- Median hourly wage: $32.42
- Total employment: 40 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $69,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.54
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 60 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,520
- Median hourly wage: $36.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 80 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $75,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,420
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 140 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,010
- Median hourly wage: $38.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $83,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.23
- Total employment: 70 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $90,480
- Median hourly wage: $43.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $93,680
- Median hourly wage: $45.04
- Total employment: 110 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $97,320
- Median hourly wage: $46.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,610
- Median hourly wage: $47.41
- Total employment: 110 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $107,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.73
- Total employment: 70 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $123,720
- Median hourly wage: $59.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 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.