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1 / 50#50. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $61,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Lancaster
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 Lancaster 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. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,570
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 350 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 140 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Xmentoys // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Calibration technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: Not available
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 220 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 380 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 140 people (0.55 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: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 2,320 people (9.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 120 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 1,270 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 530 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $62,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 830 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 890 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
muratart // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 2,720 people (10.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 150 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $63,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Total employment: 140 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 1,050 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 170 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $64,850
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 220 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.63
- Total employment: 330 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 120 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,080
- Median hourly wage: $32.25
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $68,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $69,500
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $69,830
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Total employment: 1,890 people (7.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 100 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 1,010 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 1,710 people (6.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $77,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $77,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 360 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $78,370
- Median hourly wage: $37.68
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $79,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.10
- Total employment: 220 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 130 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $80,910
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 340 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $82,040
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 370 people (1.5 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: $86,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $86,440
- Median hourly wage: $41.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $88,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.72
- Total employment: 690 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $90,900
- Median hourly wage: $43.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $95,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.11
- Total employment: 340 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $96,920
- Median hourly wage: $46.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $106,260
- Median hourly wage: $51.09
- Total employment: 170 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $106,890
- Median hourly wage: $51.39
- Total employment: 100 people (0.41 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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