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

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 Oshkosh 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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Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $61,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 150 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $61,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 250 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 440 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vitpho // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 1,630 people (17.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 350 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 480 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 400 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $62,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 180 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 190 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $62,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 800 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 460 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $64,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $65,350
- Median hourly wage: $31.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $66,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 170 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $66,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: Not available

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26 / 50

#25. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $68,590
- Median hourly wage: $32.98
- Total employment: 150 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $70,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $72,090
- Median hourly wage: $34.66
- Total employment: 210 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 140 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $75,710
- Median hourly wage: $36.40
- Total employment: 210 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $76,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.67
- Total employment: 660 people (7.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 990 people (10.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,460
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $80,360
- Median hourly wage: $38.64
- Total employment: 210 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 280 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,520
- Median hourly wage: $39.19
- Total employment: 350 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

#11. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $82,760
- Median hourly wage: $39.79
- Total employment: 830 people (8.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $84,220
- Median hourly wage: $40.49
- Total employment: 170 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,910
- Median hourly wage: $42.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,650
- Median hourly wage: $43.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $90,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.43
- Total employment: 190 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $90,880
- Median hourly wage: $43.69
- Total employment: 510 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.13
- Total employment: 210 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $99,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $99,160
- Median hourly wage: $47.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $101,750
- Median hourly wage: $48.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $109,470
- Median hourly wage: $52.63
- Total employment: 150 people (1.55 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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