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

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 Erie 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. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $53,560
- Median hourly wage: $25.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $54,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $56,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.99
- Total employment: 90 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $56,540
- Median hourly wage: $27.19
- Total employment: 500 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $56,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.28
- Total employment: 320 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $57,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 420 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 90 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 390 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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John Leung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $57,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 1,160 people (9.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 240 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 160 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $58,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $58,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 210 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $59,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 840 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 390 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

- Median annual wage: $60,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 890 people (7.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 900 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,760
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 240 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 280 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 300 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 380 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 140 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $67,690
- Median hourly wage: $32.54
- Total employment: 120 people (1.03 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: $68,440
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 420 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $68,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 160 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 160 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,840
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 440 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $94,290
- Median hourly wage: $45.33
- Total employment: 610 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $95,970
- Median hourly wage: $46.14
- Total employment: 110 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $105,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)