Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $46,020
- Median hourly wage: $22.13
- Total employment: 260 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in San Angelo
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 San Angelo 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. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $46,050
- Median hourly wage: $22.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $46,340
- Median hourly wage: $22.28
- Total employment: 60 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $46,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $46,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.55
- Total employment: 270 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $47,180
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 270 people (5.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $47,320
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 190 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $47,570
- Median hourly wage: $22.87
- Total employment: 410 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $47,730
- Median hourly wage: $22.95
- Total employment: 710 people (14.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $47,770
- Median hourly wage: $22.97
- Total employment: 130 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $48,270
- Median hourly wage: $23.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $48,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.39
- Total employment: 180 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $48,830
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 350 people (6.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.81
- Total employment: 80 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $50,150
- Median hourly wage: $24.11
- Total employment: 110 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $51,080
- Median hourly wage: $24.56
- Total employment: 120 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $53,330
- Median hourly wage: $25.64
- Total employment: 80 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,350
- Median hourly wage: $25.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $55,170
- Median hourly wage: $26.53
- Total employment: 110 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 70 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 120 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $55,960
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 290 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $56,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 590 people (11.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 170 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $56,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 320 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $57,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 70 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $58,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.35
- Total employment: 190 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 60 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 50 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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anatoliy_gleb // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Derrick operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 70 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.37
- Total employment: 230 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 100 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $64,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 290 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 310 people (6.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $66,910
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 80 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.58
- Total employment: 100 people (1.99 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: $68,770
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 280 people (5.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $73,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 90 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $73,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,060
- Median hourly wage: $35.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 100 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $80,760
- Median hourly wage: $38.83
- Total employment: 60 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 60 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.98
- Total employment: 60 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $103,080
- Median hourly wage: $49.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.63 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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