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

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 Amarillo 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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Bigflick // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $54,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 440 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 590 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $54,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,980
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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fizkes // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $55,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $56,310
- Median hourly wage: $27.07
- Total employment: 80 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 430 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 320 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 100 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 1,340 people (10.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jordi C // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Wind turbine service technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 250 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 680 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $58,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 230 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 180 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 700 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 220 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 180 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 250 people (2.03 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: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 760 people (6.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 160 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $67,000
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Total employment: 260 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,930
- Median hourly wage: $33.14
- Total employment: 660 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 670 people (5.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,350
- Median hourly wage: $33.82
- Total employment: 110 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,480
- Median hourly wage: $34.85
- Total employment: 130 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Hazardous materials removal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 130 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $77,490
- Median hourly wage: $37.25
- Total employment: 130 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,500
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 170 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.54
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $78,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 670 people (5.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 130 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $85,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 260 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $104,240
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 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.