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

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 Altoona 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.

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $48,690
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 180 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $49,180
- Median hourly wage: $23.64
- Total employment: 180 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.95
- Total employment: 80 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Total employment: 140 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Altoona

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $50,300
- Median hourly wage: $24.18
- Total employment: 100 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 1,140 people (19.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $51,050
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 120 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $51,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 170 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $51,660
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#39. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)

- Median annual wage: $51,990
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 310 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,990
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,370
- Median hourly wage: $25.18
- Total employment: 160 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $53,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.48
- Total employment: 270 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 110 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $54,260
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 100 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $54,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $54,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 390 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Altoona

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $56,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.20
- Total employment: 110 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 140 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 230 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 70 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 70 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Altoona

SritanaN // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $58,410
- Median hourly wage: $28.08
- Total employment: 180 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 500 people (8.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 230 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 550 people (9.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 90 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 500 people (8.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 70 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 340 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $65,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $66,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 140 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,100
- Median hourly wage: $33.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 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: $70,550
- Median hourly wage: $33.92
- Total employment: 230 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,600
- Median hourly wage: $33.94
- Total employment: 240 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,020
- Median hourly wage: $35.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $74,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 80 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $75,000
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 310 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $83,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)