Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 310 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Greenville
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 Greenville 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Greenville area by diners
welcomia // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $61,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 330 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 840 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 1,590 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
5 / 50#45. Legal support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Greenville by diners
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Food service managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 740 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 130 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yulai Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Surgical assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 350 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 4,170 people (9.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Greenville buyers
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $63,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 390 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $63,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Total employment: 310 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $63,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.58
- Total employment: 4,780 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Greenville
lenetstan // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 690 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $64,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 610 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.68
- Total employment: 330 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Greenville area by diners
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $66,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $68,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.02
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $69,730
- Median hourly wage: $33.52
- Total employment: 270 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $69,930
- Median hourly wage: $33.62
- Total employment: 220 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 2,370 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Greenville October 2025
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $69,960
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 410 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $71,700
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,070
- Median hourly wage: $34.65
- Total employment: 540 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $72,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.84
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Greenville
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $72,480
- Median hourly wage: $34.85
- Total employment: 210 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $73,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 200 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $74,300
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 670 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 1,510 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Greenville are looking to buy homes
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $75,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 430 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $75,820
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 2,780 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $76,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,930
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $78,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 570 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Greenville
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $78,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $79,200
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $79,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 270 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 350 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $80,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.74
- Total employment: 100 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Greenville
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $81,620
- Median hourly wage: $39.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,980
- Median hourly wage: $39.41
- Total employment: 360 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $83,460
- Median hourly wage: $40.12
- Total employment: 710 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $104,330
- Median hourly wage: $50.16
- Total employment: 520 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $126,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Greenville area by diners
