Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 330 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Allentown
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 Allentown 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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2 / 50#49. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 700 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 330 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $65,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 760 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Total employment: 100 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 170 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 2,340 people (6.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $66,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 140 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.07
- Total employment: 520 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 1,140 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $68,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $68,280
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 170 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 110 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $69,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.58
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $71,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $72,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 1,440 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $73,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.28
- Total employment: 3,300 people (8.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 110 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 310 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $76,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 1,950 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 720 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Median annual wage: $76,690
- Median hourly wage: $36.87
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $77,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 450 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $78,070
- Median hourly wage: $37.54
- Total employment: 530 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $78,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 1,350 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 270 people (0.74 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: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,330 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $80,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.61
- Total employment: 320 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $81,420
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $83,900
- Median hourly wage: $40.34
- Total employment: 570 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $86,060
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 1,460 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $86,320
- Median hourly wage: $41.50
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Funeral home managers
- Median annual wage: $86,710
- Median hourly wage: $41.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,920
- Median hourly wage: $41.79
- Total employment: 270 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $87,610
- Median hourly wage: $42.12
- Total employment: 170 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $88,450
- Median hourly wage: $42.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $91,840
- Median hourly wage: $44.16
- Total employment: 290 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $91,930
- Median hourly wage: $44.20
- Total employment: 210 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $93,500
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 440 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $95,220
- Median hourly wage: $45.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,920
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $102,790
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 630 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $107,840
- Median hourly wage: $51.85
- Total employment: 260 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $108,390
- Median hourly wage: $52.11
- Total employment: 370 people (0.99 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.
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