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

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 Eugene 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: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 340 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,310 people (8.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 530 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 270 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,850
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 560 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 1,060 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $70,890
- Median hourly wage: $34.08
- Total employment: 330 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $71,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $72,350
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $72,610
- Median hourly wage: $34.91
- Total employment: 140 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GolF2532 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $73,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $73,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 560 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,660
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 190 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 150 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $74,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $75,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 290 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $75,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $77,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 620 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 700 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $80,430
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $81,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 200 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 210 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $83,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,390
- Median hourly wage: $40.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $84,440
- Median hourly wage: $40.60
- Total employment: 700 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $87,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.25
- Total employment: 190 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $87,970
- Median hourly wage: $42.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $90,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.53
- Total employment: 370 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Lighthunter // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $90,640
- Median hourly wage: $43.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $90,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.73
- Total employment: 380 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,520
- Median hourly wage: $44.48
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Radiologic technologists and technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 220 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $104,410
- Median hourly wage: $50.20
- Total employment: 310 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $108,650
- Median hourly wage: $52.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $112,810
- Median hourly wage: $54.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $125,470
- Median hourly wage: $60.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $126,570
- Median hourly wage: $60.85
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 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.