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

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 Longview 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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Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 110 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $60,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 100 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $60,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 750 people (18.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 140 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 130 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 240 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 260 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 40 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 40 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $66,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 180 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 630 people (15.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $69,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 180 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,870
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 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: $70,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.92
- Total employment: 180 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,560
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 130 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 110 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Funtay // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

- Median annual wage: $72,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $74,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.81
- Total employment: 90 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 140 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 110 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 170 people (4.2 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: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 360 people (8.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 350 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#17. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Chemical equipment operators and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 170 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $83,870
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 270 people (6.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 430 people (10.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,490
- Median hourly wage: $41.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,850
- Median hourly wage: $42.23
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $89,340
- Median hourly wage: $42.95
- Total employment: 510 people (12.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $91,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.04
- Total employment: 160 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $93,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.13
- Total employment: 110 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $94,790
- Median hourly wage: $45.57
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $95,500
- Median hourly wage: $45.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $97,460
- Median hourly wage: $46.86
- Total employment: 100 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 240 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.13 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: $106,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.29
- Total employment: 350 people (8.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $107,110
- Median hourly wage: $51.50
- Total employment: 90 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $119,120
- Median hourly wage: $57.27
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

50 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $131,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.13
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 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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