Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Victoria

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 Victoria 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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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $45,240
- Median hourly wage: $21.75
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $45,330
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $45,650
- Median hourly wage: $21.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $45,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.07
- Total employment: 40 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,940
- Median hourly wage: $22.09
- Total employment: 70 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $45,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Roustabouts, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $46,150
- Median hourly wage: $22.19
- Total employment: 240 people (6.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $46,480
- Median hourly wage: $22.35
- Total employment: 60 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $46,700
- Median hourly wage: $22.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $47,370
- Median hourly wage: $22.78
- Total employment: 70 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $47,410
- Median hourly wage: $22.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $47,440
- Median hourly wage: $22.81
- Total employment: 70 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,550
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Total employment: 160 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $47,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.06
- Total employment: 110 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $48,910
- Median hourly wage: $23.52
- Total employment: 610 people (15.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $49,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.61
- Total employment: 150 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $49,450
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,060
- Median hourly wage: $24.55
- Total employment: 110 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $51,630
- Median hourly wage: $24.82
- Total employment: 140 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $52,420
- Median hourly wage: $25.20
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $52,920
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Total employment: 190 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 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: $54,790
- Median hourly wage: $26.34
- Total employment: 460 people (11.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $56,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 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: $57,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $58,060
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 230 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 140 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $58,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 50 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 260 people (6.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 340 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 80 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,620
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 40 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 60 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $60,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 50 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 60 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 250 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 340 people (8.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 80 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $65,490
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 100 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,170
- Median hourly wage: $32.78
- Total employment: 170 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,370
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.57
- Total employment: 310 people (8.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,700
- Median hourly wage: $34.95
- Total employment: 100 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.03
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 240 people (6.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Total employment: 90 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,750
- Median hourly wage: $39.79
- Total employment: 50 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $88,290
- Median hourly wage: $42.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

50 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,130
- Median hourly wage: $47.18
- Total employment: 50 people (1.36 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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