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1 / 50#50. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Kennewick
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 Kennewick 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. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $75,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 300 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 540 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,520
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 830 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,100
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $77,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 440 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $78,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 200 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $78,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,160
- Median hourly wage: $38.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $79,210
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 270 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $79,270
- Median hourly wage: $38.11
- Total employment: 620 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $83,080
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 130 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $85,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.99
- Total employment: 130 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $85,430
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $85,690
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $85,820
- Median hourly wage: $41.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $87,770
- Median hourly wage: $42.20
- Total employment: 650 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $88,400
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $90,310
- Median hourly wage: $43.42
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $91,550
- Median hourly wage: $44.01
- Total employment: 110 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $92,950
- Median hourly wage: $44.69
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $94,610
- Median hourly wage: $45.49
- Total employment: 590 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
branislavpudar // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Hazardous materials removal workers
- Median annual wage: $95,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.96
- Total employment: 660 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,480
- Median hourly wage: $46.39
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $97,570
- Median hourly wage: $46.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $97,710
- Median hourly wage: $46.97
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $97,960
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $98,830
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $100,980
- Median hourly wage: $48.55
- Total employment: 880 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $101,980
- Median hourly wage: $49.03
- Total employment: Not available
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $103,350
- Median hourly wage: $49.69
- Total employment: 250 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $103,890
- Median hourly wage: $49.95
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $103,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $104,460
- Median hourly wage: $50.22
- Total employment: 320 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $104,830
- Median hourly wage: $50.40
- Total employment: 120 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $107,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.49
- Total employment: 240 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $107,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $107,860
- Median hourly wage: $51.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $108,740
- Median hourly wage: $52.28
- Total employment: 970 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $108,820
- Median hourly wage: $52.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $110,250
- Median hourly wage: $53.01
- Total employment: 60 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $112,530
- Median hourly wage: $54.10
- Total employment: 90 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $113,530
- Median hourly wage: $54.58
- Total employment: 1,420 people (11.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $123,000
- Median hourly wage: $59.14
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $123,460
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $135,150
- Median hourly wage: $64.98
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 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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