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

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

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 Pittsburgh 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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#50. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

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#50. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,270
- Median hourly wage: $32.82
- Total employment: 1,900 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

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#49. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Median annual wage: $68,590
- Median hourly wage: $32.98
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Mechanical drafters

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#48. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $68,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.07
- Total employment: 450 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

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#47. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,350
- Median hourly wage: $33.82
- Total employment: 350 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

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5 / 50

#46. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $71,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.17
- Total employment: 460 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Maintenance workers, machinery

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6 / 50

#45. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $71,230
- Median hourly wage: $34.24
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Firefighters

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#44. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $71,430
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 900 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Real estate brokers

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#43. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $74,390
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $74,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 4,830 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

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#40. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,060
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Pipelayers

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#39. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $75,520
- Median hourly wage: $36.31
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

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#38. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $75,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.32
- Total employment: Not available

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

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

- Median annual wage: $76,020
- Median hourly wage: $36.55
- Total employment: 3,740 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons

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15 / 50

#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $76,040
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 830 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#35. Dental hygienists

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16 / 50

#35. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $76,220
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 1,690 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $76,410
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Computer network support specialists

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#33. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.82
- Total employment: 920 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Diagnostic medical sonographers

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#32. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $76,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.88
- Total employment: 560 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

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#30. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 380 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Radiation therapists

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22 / 50

#29. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 170 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Chemical plant and system operators

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23 / 50

#28. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 150 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Insulation workers, mechanical

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24 / 50

#27. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $79,210
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $79,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Nuclear medicine technologists

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#25. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $79,680
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

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#24. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $80,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.66
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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

- Median annual wage: $80,620
- Median hourly wage: $38.76
- Total employment: 5,940 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Structural iron and steel workers

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#22. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 340 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

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#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $82,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.55
- Total employment: 4,800 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Power plant operators

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#19. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $83,210
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

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#18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $84,310
- Median hourly wage: $40.53
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Detectives and criminal investigators

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#17. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,430
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 530 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

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#16. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $87,000
- Median hourly wage: $41.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Boilermakers

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36 / 50

#15. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $89,210
- Median hourly wage: $42.89
- Total employment: 160 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

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37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $89,230
- Median hourly wage: $42.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

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38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,310
- Median hourly wage: $42.94
- Total employment: 610 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Funeral home managers

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#12. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $93,320
- Median hourly wage: $44.86
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Power distributors and dispatchers

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41 / 50

#10. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $98,870
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 280 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $99,190
- Median hourly wage: $47.69
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

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#8. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $100,030
- Median hourly wage: $48.09
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

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44 / 50

#7. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $100,930
- Median hourly wage: $48.52
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

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#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $105,910
- Median hourly wage: $50.92
- Total employment: 860 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Transportation inspectors

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47 / 50

#4. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $106,910
- Median hourly wage: $51.40
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

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48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $109,970
- Median hourly wage: $52.87
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Commercial pilots

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49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $131,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Air traffic controllers

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50 / 50

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $131,730
- Median hourly wage: $63.33
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 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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