Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in College Station

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 College Station 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 Chinese restaurants in College Station

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $49,590
- Median hourly wage: $23.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,700
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 780 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 450 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $50,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Total employment: 190 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 390 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $50,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $51,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 290 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $51,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.87
- Total employment: 60 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $52,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,380
- Median hourly wage: $25.18
- Total employment: 310 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $53,080
- Median hourly wage: $25.52
- Total employment: 390 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $53,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $53,760
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 100 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $55,230
- Median hourly wage: $26.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in College Station October 2025

manine99 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $55,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $55,490
- Median hourly wage: $26.68
- Total employment: 500 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,860
- Median hourly wage: $26.85
- Total employment: 110 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.20
- Total employment: 190 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 480 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $58,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 130 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $58,790
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 130 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 330 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $59,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to College Station

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $59,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: Not available

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 1,890 people (14.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 420 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 600 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in College Station

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 380 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 420 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: 210 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 590 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 190 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,420
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 110 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.80
- Total employment: 520 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,740
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 530 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.11
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,150
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

SofikoS // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $80,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $81,360
- Median hourly wage: $39.12
- Total employment: 130 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $87,220
- Median hourly wage: $41.94
- Total employment: 180 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $96,770
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,800
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 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.