Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Eau Claire

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 Eau Claire 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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1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 80 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 400 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $59,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 340 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#44. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 250 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 290 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $60,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 200 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.17
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 600 people (6.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $61,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 260 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 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: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 180 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 110 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 650 people (7.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 890 people (10.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 340 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $65,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $67,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.53
- Total employment: 120 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $69,460
- Median hourly wage: $33.39
- Total employment: 300 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,890
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 570 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $73,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.50
- Total employment: 320 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $74,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 220 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,450
- Median hourly wage: $37.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: 350 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,470
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 360 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $82,870
- Median hourly wage: $39.84
- Total employment: 210 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $83,620
- Median hourly wage: $40.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $84,370
- Median hourly wage: $40.56
- Total employment: 170 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Bigflick // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $85,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 350 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $91,950
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 110 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,360
- Median hourly wage: $45.37
- Total employment: 160 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $99,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)