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1 / 50#50. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $58,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 440 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Charlottesville
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 Charlottesville 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. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 100 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 200 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 90 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 100 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $59,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 910 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Medical records specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 210 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 310 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#36. Computer user support specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 430 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Industrial machinery mechanics (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 80 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 190 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Freedomz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 80 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 400 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 700 people (6.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 400 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 760 people (6.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $63,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 390 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 80 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 180 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 170 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $65,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 130 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $66,730
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.60
- Total employment: 310 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $67,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.67
- Total employment: 140 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $69,970
- Median hourly wage: $33.64
- Total employment: 100 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $70,510
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $71,350
- Median hourly wage: $34.30
- Total employment: 120 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 200 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $74,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,210
- Median hourly wage: $35.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $74,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 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: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 340 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Medical equipment repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 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: $78,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Total employment: 720 people (6.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.21
- Total employment: 150 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.65
- Total employment: 160 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $83,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.23
- Total employment: 110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $86,260
- Median hourly wage: $41.47
- Total employment: 90 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $86,740
- Median hourly wage: $41.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $91,380
- Median hourly wage: $43.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $95,120
- Median hourly wage: $45.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $96,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 130 people (1.11 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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