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

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 Harrisonburg 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.

4 PM production // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $50,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.28
- Total employment: 70 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,890
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 170 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,120
- Median hourly wage: $25.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $53,580
- Median hourly wage: $25.76
- Total employment: 290 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 330 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $54,680
- Median hourly wage: $26.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $55,230
- Median hourly wage: $26.55
- Total employment: 1,520 people (23.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,350
- Median hourly wage: $26.61
- Total employment: 160 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 140 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $55,470
- Median hourly wage: $26.67
- Total employment: 1,240 people (19.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $55,740
- Median hourly wage: $26.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 300 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $57,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 330 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 220 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $59,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 50 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 110 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 130 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 220 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 120 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 250 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $61,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $61,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 360 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 410 people (6.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 130 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 430 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 500 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 370 people (5.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $64,490
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 590 people (9.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gearstd // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 150 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,490
- Median hourly wage: $31.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,990
- Median hourly wage: $33.17
- Total employment: 460 people (7.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.16
- Total employment: 310 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 150 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $88,300
- Median hourly wage: $42.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $95,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.01
- Total employment: 90 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.86 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.