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

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 Richmond 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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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 500 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 470 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $69,180
- Median hourly wage: $33.26
- Total employment: 850 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $69,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.50
- Total employment: 270 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $69,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 90 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $70,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $71,070
- Median hourly wage: $34.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $72,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $73,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 220 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 2,140 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 4,370 people (6.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.58
- Total employment: 520 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,040
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Total employment: 2,110 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,410
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: 170 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,630
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 430 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $76,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: Not available

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $76,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 240 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 1,560 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 2,960 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $79,200
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 510 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,620
- Median hourly wage: $38.28
- Total employment: 1,100 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 750 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $80,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 560 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 310 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 150 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Xmentoys // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Calibration technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $82,480
- Median hourly wage: $39.65
- Total employment: 480 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $82,550
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 520 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $88,500
- Median hourly wage: $42.55
- Total employment: 460 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,350
- Median hourly wage: $44.88
- Total employment: 1,430 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $93,560
- Median hourly wage: $44.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $93,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $94,250
- Median hourly wage: $45.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $95,300
- Median hourly wage: $45.82
- Total employment: 150 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

My Ocean Production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $95,840
- Median hourly wage: $46.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $96,150
- Median hourly wage: $46.23
- Total employment: 510 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $98,020
- Median hourly wage: $47.13
- Total employment: 550 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $100,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.40
- Total employment: 660 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,140
- Median hourly wage: $48.62
- Total employment: 560 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $101,400
- Median hourly wage: $48.75
- Total employment: 480 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $102,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $105,140
- Median hourly wage: $50.55
- Total employment: 230 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $115,110
- Median hourly wage: $55.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $163,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 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.