Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in La Crosse

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 La Crosse 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.

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.22
- Total employment: 340 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 410 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $58,050
- Median hourly wage: $27.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $58,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 200 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $58,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 490 people (5.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 120 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,790
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Hitdelight // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $59,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 2,070 people (24.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 520 people (6.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 220 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 790 people (9.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $61,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 130 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 160 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,760
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 220 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 220 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 590 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 300 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 240 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 150 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 540 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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33 / 50

#18. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $65,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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34 / 50

#17. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $67,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $67,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.48
- Total employment: 290 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $67,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $68,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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38 / 50

#13. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $76,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 300 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $78,710
- Median hourly wage: $37.84
- Total employment: 240 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 310 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,340
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 340 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.19
- Total employment: 140 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,090
- Median hourly wage: $40.43
- Total employment: 140 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $86,010
- Median hourly wage: $41.35
- Total employment: 150 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $94,580
- Median hourly wage: $45.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $97,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $103,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.65
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $106,080
- Median hourly wage: $51.00
- Total employment: 90 people (1.04 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.