Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in El Paso

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 El Paso 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.

Xmentoys // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Calibration technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,970
- Median hourly wage: $25.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $53,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 400 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,510
- Median hourly wage: $25.73
- Total employment: 3,970 people (11.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $53,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 410 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 290 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $54,740
- Median hourly wage: $26.32
- Total employment: 1,190 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $56,100
- Median hourly wage: $26.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,270
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 1,100 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $56,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.28
- Total employment: 1,620 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 250 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 650 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 160 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $58,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.89
- Total employment: 120 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 450 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $59,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $60,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $60,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 1,370 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 230 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $61,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 250 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 140 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $62,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 1,240 people (3.72 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: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 280 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 120 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Total employment: 580 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,290
- Median hourly wage: $31.87
- Total employment: 310 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 150 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $66,800
- Median hourly wage: $32.11
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $68,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Total employment: 140 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $70,670
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 220 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $71,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.60
- Total employment: 330 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.58
- Total employment: 130 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $74,880
- Median hourly wage: $36.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 1,700 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $78,470
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 660 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,800
- Median hourly wage: $39.81
- Total employment: 340 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $98,550
- Median hourly wage: $47.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $100,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,120
- Median hourly wage: $49.58
- Total employment: 100 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $105,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $107,240
- Median hourly wage: $51.56
- Total employment: 1,760 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $107,560
- Median hourly wage: $51.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 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: $117,200
- Median hourly wage: $56.34
- Total employment: 170 people (0.52 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.