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

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 Providence 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.

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $74,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.02
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 2,930 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: 2,310 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $75,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 410 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 6,710 people (9.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 3,040 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 340 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 3,940 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $78,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 1,020 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: Not available

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 750 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Electrical and electronics drafters

- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,810
- Median hourly wage: $38.37
- Total employment: 250 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,170
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 2,580 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders

- Median annual wage: $80,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,920
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 430 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $82,030
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 1,120 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $83,300
- Median hourly wage: $40.05
- Total employment: 410 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,480
- Median hourly wage: $40.13
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,860
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 280 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $84,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.44
- Total employment: 100 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,630
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $85,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.88
- Total employment: 1,390 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,310
- Median hourly wage: $41.02
- Total employment: 1,000 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $88,780
- Median hourly wage: $42.68
- Total employment: 490 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $88,880
- Median hourly wage: $42.73
- Total employment: 300 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,880
- Median hourly wage: $45.62
- Total employment: 380 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,900
- Median hourly wage: $45.62
- Total employment: 760 people (1.08 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: $95,220
- Median hourly wage: $45.78
- Total employment: 3,270 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $95,430
- Median hourly wage: $45.88
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $95,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.06
- Total employment: 670 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,820
- Median hourly wage: $46.55
- Total employment: 710 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $97,200
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $98,370
- Median hourly wage: $47.29
- Total employment: 160 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $99,720
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Total employment: 490 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 100 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $101,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 820 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $103,250
- Median hourly wage: $49.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 160 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,490
- Median hourly wage: $49.75
- Total employment: 320 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $105,440
- Median hourly wage: $50.69
- Total employment: 250 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $110,020
- Median hourly wage: $52.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $113,770
- Median hourly wage: $54.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $114,480
- Median hourly wage: $55.04
- Total employment: 140 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $116,790
- Median hourly wage: $56.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Burben // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $121,680
- Median hourly wage: $58.50
- Total employment: 50 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.