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

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 Staunton 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.

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $49,690
- Median hourly wage: $23.89
- Total employment: 520 people (10.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $49,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 90 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $50,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 230 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $50,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 320 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $51,220
- Median hourly wage: $24.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rido // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $51,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $52,280
- Median hourly wage: $25.14
- Total employment: 60 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $52,570
- Median hourly wage: $25.27
- Total employment: 910 people (17.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 120 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 130 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,700
- Median hourly wage: $26.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Total employment: 120 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $55,170
- Median hourly wage: $26.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $56,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 200 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 140 people (2.74 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: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 220 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,290
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,830
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 220 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 100 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 340 people (6.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 230 people (4.63 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: $60,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 160 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 80 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 80 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 290 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $61,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 90 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 330 people (6.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 300 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 120 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $63,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 80 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Total employment: 230 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $69,300
- Median hourly wage: $33.32
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $70,150
- Median hourly wage: $33.73
- Total employment: 290 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $71,230
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,060
- Median hourly wage: $34.65
- Total employment: 380 people (7.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 280 people (5.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,020
- Median hourly wage: $36.55
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $77,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $81,580
- Median hourly wage: $39.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $83,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 60 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $98,900
- Median hourly wage: $47.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,920
- Median hourly wage: $47.56
- Total employment: 60 people (1.19 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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