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

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 Beaumont 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 Cajun restaurants in Beaumont by diners

welcomia // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 360 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 190 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Dven // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Motorboat operators

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: Not available

lenetstan // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 260 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

prochasson frederic // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $62,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 300 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Beaumont

Prath // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 930 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $63,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Total employment: 440 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Beaumont

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $66,730
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $66,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 180 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 1,030 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $67,450
- Median hourly wage: $32.43
- Total employment: 140 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Beaumont

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $68,310
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Total employment: 310 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $68,920
- Median hourly wage: $33.13
- Total employment: 140 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $69,300
- Median hourly wage: $33.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $71,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 250 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,880
- Median hourly wage: $34.56
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Beaumont

sculpies // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,420
- Median hourly wage: $35.30
- Total employment: 2,100 people (13.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 310 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders

- Median annual wage: $77,070
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Beaumont 7-day weather forecast

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 130 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 920 people (5.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,260
- Median hourly wage: $38.11
- Total employment: 1,450 people (9.09 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: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 1,090 people (6.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Beaumont

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $80,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.51
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Xmentoys // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Calibration technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,670
- Median hourly wage: $39.26
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 150 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,530
- Median hourly wage: $40.16
- Total employment: 300 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $89,950
- Median hourly wage: $43.25
- Total employment: 340 people (2.15 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: $93,330
- Median hourly wage: $44.87
- Total employment: 290 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $93,830
- Median hourly wage: $45.11
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $96,610
- Median hourly wage: $46.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $96,960
- Median hourly wage: $46.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,190
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 390 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $97,970
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 1,820 people (11.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $98,410
- Median hourly wage: $47.31
- Total employment: 1,140 people (7.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $98,600
- Median hourly wage: $47.41
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $104,580
- Median hourly wage: $50.28
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $109,810
- Median hourly wage: $52.79
- Total employment: 200 people (1.25 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.