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

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 Abilene 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.

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $51,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,050
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 90 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $51,380
- Median hourly wage: $24.70
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $51,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 1,200 people (16.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,090
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 290 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $52,220
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 270 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $52,900
- Median hourly wage: $25.43
- Total employment: Not available

Freedomz // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.52
- Total employment: Not available

Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $53,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.08
- Total employment: 100 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $55,610
- Median hourly wage: $26.73
- Total employment: 100 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 430 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 580 people (7.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $56,450
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 90 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $56,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 110 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 150 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 270 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $58,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Total employment: 960 people (12.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 190 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 200 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 130 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 410 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 170 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jordi C // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Wind turbine service technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 80 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 150 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 170 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 70 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 430 people (5.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 400 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $67,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,920
- Median hourly wage: $33.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,840
- Median hourly wage: $34.06
- Total employment: 80 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 400 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $79,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 210 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $81,600
- Median hourly wage: $39.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 80 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $83,310
- Median hourly wage: $40.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)