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

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 Columbia 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. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 300 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 130 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 1,150 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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anyaivanova // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 240 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 830 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 230 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 1,350 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 180 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 3,290 people (8.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 220 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.95
- Total employment: 4,710 people (12.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 300 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $65,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.71
- Total employment: 1,100 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,010
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $66,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 500 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,920
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 520 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.26
- Total employment: 260 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.76
- Total employment: 290 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.80
- Total employment: 1,460 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,190
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 450 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,420
- Median hourly wage: $33.38
- Total employment: 210 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $69,800
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,020
- Median hourly wage: $34.63
- Total employment: 1,630 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,250
- Median hourly wage: $34.74
- Total employment: 270 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,980
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Total employment: 1,720 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Toa55 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,700
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 230 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $74,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.02
- Total employment: 1,770 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,520
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

- Median annual wage: $77,330
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $77,820
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 210 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Total employment: 360 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $79,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 270 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,710
- Median hourly wage: $38.32
- Total employment: 560 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $81,480
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 260 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $82,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $83,860
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $100,510
- Median hourly wage: $48.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $102,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.49
- Total employment: 460 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $104,050
- Median hourly wage: $50.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $106,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $128,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 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.