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1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.28
- Total employment: 3,870 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in San Antonio
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 Antonio 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 non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $66,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Funeral home managers
- Median annual wage: $66,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $66,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 950 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 810 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $68,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.85
- Total employment: 740 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 2,100 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $68,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $69,930
- Median hourly wage: $33.62
- Total employment: 830 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $70,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $70,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.02
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Median annual wage: $71,420
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 4,920 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $72,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 5,630 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50#33. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $72,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.70
- Total employment: 5,910 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $72,400
- Median hourly wage: $34.81
- Total employment: 410 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photostriker // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $73,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,220
- Median hourly wage: $35.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $74,700
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 1,810 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $75,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 950 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,040
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 970 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 1,670 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Toa55 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $77,630
- Median hourly wage: $37.32
- Total employment: 480 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $78,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 730 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yulai Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Surgical assistants
- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 180 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 4,820 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $82,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 1,600 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $84,060
- Median hourly wage: $40.41
- Total employment: 290 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $84,130
- Median hourly wage: $40.45
- Total employment: 450 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Agape // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Avionics technicians
- Median annual wage: $84,290
- Median hourly wage: $40.52
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $85,730
- Median hourly wage: $41.22
- Total employment: 260 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $85,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.27
- Total employment: 1,090 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $86,160
- Median hourly wage: $41.43
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $86,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $90,040
- Median hourly wage: $43.29
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $95,660
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,440
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 150 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $100,190
- Median hourly wage: $48.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $103,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.98
- Total employment: 370 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $107,360
- Median hourly wage: $51.62
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $125,230
- Median hourly wage: $60.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $139,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 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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