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1 / 50#50. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $51,170
- Median hourly wage: $24.60
- Total employment: 790 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Lubbock
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 Lubbock 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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2 / 50#49. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.76
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $53,870
- Median hourly wage: $25.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $54,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $55,280
- Median hourly wage: $26.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $55,450
- Median hourly wage: $26.66
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $56,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 650 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 950 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $56,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $57,630
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 310 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
photodiem // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $58,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 160 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $59,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 460 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#34. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 990 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 180 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 340 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 2,250 people (13.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $59,710
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 260 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,940
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 340 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 330 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $61,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 270 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 340 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 840 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 780 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 220 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,730
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 210 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 270 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $72,140
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 100 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $72,240
- Median hourly wage: $34.73
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Surgical assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 750 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $76,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 460 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,610
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 300 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Toa55 // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $79,810
- Median hourly wage: $38.37
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $81,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.96
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $81,650
- Median hourly wage: $39.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 170 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Skycolors // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $86,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $89,110
- Median hourly wage: $42.84
- Total employment: Not available
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $100,380
- Median hourly wage: $48.26
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $105,700
- Median hourly wage: $50.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $107,550
- Median hourly wage: $51.71
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 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.
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