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

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 Brownsville 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: Brownsville's 2025 housing market year in review

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $45,550
- Median hourly wage: $21.90
- Total employment: 350 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $45,700
- Median hourly wage: $21.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $45,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.98
- Total employment: 260 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $45,870
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 340 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $46,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.24
- Total employment: 330 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Brownsville by diners

Vitpho // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $46,270
- Median hourly wage: $22.25
- Total employment: 1,750 people (11.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $46,500
- Median hourly wage: $22.35
- Total employment: 790 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $46,770
- Median hourly wage: $22.48
- Total employment: 360 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $46,880
- Median hourly wage: $22.54
- Total employment: 130 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $47,020
- Median hourly wage: $22.61
- Total employment: 120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in Brownsville by diners

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $47,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.74
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,780
- Median hourly wage: $22.97
- Total employment: 480 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $48,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $48,370
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Brownsville

Kot500 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 280 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $48,590
- Median hourly wage: $23.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 1,710 people (10.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 130 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Cargo and freight agents

- Median annual wage: $50,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Where people in Brownsville are looking to buy homes

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 290 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,610
- Median hourly wage: $24.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.01
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 180 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $54,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.99
- Total employment: 1,240 people (7.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Brownsville by diners

Vladeep // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $54,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.02
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.16
- Total employment: 480 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $55,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.86
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $55,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.88
- Total employment: 290 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.93
- Total employment: 400 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Brownsville 7-day weather forecast

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $56,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 950 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 130 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 260 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 180 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Brownsville

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 430 people (2.75 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: $59,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 470 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 270 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Brownsville

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,300
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $71,050
- Median hourly wage: $34.16
- Total employment: 140 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Brownsville

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $76,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 220 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 130 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)