Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Mount Vernon

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 Mount Vernon 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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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 80 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 60 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 510 people (9.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BGStock72 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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David Spates // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $66,950
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 140 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $67,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.23
- Total employment: 170 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $67,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $69,360
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $69,610
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,940
- Median hourly wage: $33.62
- Total employment: 200 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $71,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $71,650
- Median hourly wage: $34.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,070
- Median hourly wage: $34.65
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,670
- Median hourly wage: $34.94
- Total employment: 190 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.49
- Total employment: 500 people (9.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 170 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $75,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $76,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.93
- Total employment: 150 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 150 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 500 people (9.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $77,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 260 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 70 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 70 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $78,370
- Median hourly wage: $37.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.95
- Total employment: 360 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 230 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $80,550
- Median hourly wage: $38.73
- Total employment: 180 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $80,880
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 120 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.29
- Total employment: 80 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $83,580
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $90,370
- Median hourly wage: $43.45
- Total employment: 280 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $95,480
- Median hourly wage: $45.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $98,090
- Median hourly wage: $47.16
- Total employment: 100 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,010
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $101,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.87
- Total employment: 170 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $103,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.65
- Total employment: 520 people (10.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $103,480
- Median hourly wage: $49.75
- Total employment: 70 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $105,250
- Median hourly wage: $50.60
- Total employment: 80 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $107,000
- Median hourly wage: $51.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $113,700
- Median hourly wage: $54.66
- Total employment: 70 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $116,740
- Median hourly wage: $56.13
- Total employment: 100 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $120,260
- Median hourly wage: $57.82
- Total employment: 110 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $123,410
- Median hourly wage: $59.33
- Total employment: 480 people (9.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $126,350
- Median hourly wage: $60.75
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 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.