Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Jackson, Tennessee

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 Jackson 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.

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $50,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nordroden // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.66
- Total employment: 320 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $51,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.72
- Total employment: 280 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,690
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $53,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.67
- Total employment: 380 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $54,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $54,340
- Median hourly wage: $26.13
- Total employment: 320 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.23
- Total employment: 210 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $56,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.93
- Total employment: 520 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 130 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $56,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 320 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 270 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,270
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,370
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Total employment: 90 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 550 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 130 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 1,090 people (12.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 90 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 200 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $61,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 160 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 110 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 100 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 450 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,010
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 780 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $66,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $67,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 230 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,510
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 410 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 110 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.62
- Total employment: 380 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.41
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $79,200
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 110 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $79,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 150 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $79,970
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 80 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $82,550
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 100 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $82,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Total employment: 120 people (1.46 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.