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

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 Roanoke 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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Anze Furlan // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers

- Median annual wage: $57,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 250 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 370 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.75
- Total employment: 320 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 610 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 160 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 350 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 960 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Police and sheriff's patrol officers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 780 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Lodging managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 1,330 people (8.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 190 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 180 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 990 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 1,300 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 240 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 200 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 140 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 930 people (6.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.11
- Total employment: 980 people (6.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 710 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $71,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,490
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 150 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 790 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,420
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 370 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 340 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.51
- Total employment: 300 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $80,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.73
- Total employment: 150 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,690
- Median hourly wage: $39.75
- Total employment: 130 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $92,380
- Median hourly wage: $44.41
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $106,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.35
- Total employment: 140 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $111,840
- Median hourly wage: $53.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 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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