Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Charleston, West Virginia

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 Charleston 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.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $54,790
- Median hourly wage: $26.34
- Total employment: 310 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.46
- Total employment: 1,170 people (10.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $55,090
- Median hourly wage: $26.49
- Total employment: 150 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $56,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 310 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

#46. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders

- Median annual wage: $56,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.22
- Total employment: 130 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Said M // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $56,780
- Median hourly wage: $27.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.79 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: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 530 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Total employment: 440 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 390 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $57,630
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $57,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 230 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 490 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 240 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 170 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $59,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 380 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $61,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 120 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 130 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $61,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 360 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $62,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 560 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $63,100
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 240 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 100 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $63,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ironwas // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Continuous mining machine operators

- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 90 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 220 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 360 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 590 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,270
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $66,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $66,260
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Toa55 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.19
- Total employment: 320 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 140 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $75,290
- Median hourly wage: $36.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,380
- Median hourly wage: $38.16
- Total employment: 740 people (6.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $82,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 90 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,530
- Median hourly wage: $40.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $84,880
- Median hourly wage: $40.81
- Total employment: 110 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $85,580
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.72 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.