Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $55,970
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 170 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Cheyenne
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 Cheyenne 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Cheyenne that don't require a college degree
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Medical records specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,100
- Median hourly wage: $26.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 150 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $56,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Cheyenne by diners
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $57,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 70 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DC Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $57,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Cheyenne area by diners
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 70 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $60,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $61,260
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 330 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Cheyenne area by diners
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 110 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $61,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $61,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 200 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 1,060 people (22.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
20 / 50#29. Computer user support specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 220 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Cheyenne area by diners
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#29. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 110 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 110 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 140 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Cheyenne
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 410 people (8.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Said M // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $63,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 140 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 150 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Cheyenne for high school graduates
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 100 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $67,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 260 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $70,140
- Median hourly wage: $33.72
- Total employment: 210 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $70,360
- Median hourly wage: $33.83
- Total employment: 240 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Cheyenne metro area
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $71,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.27
- Total employment: 80 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $72,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 410 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 90 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 120 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,050
- Median hourly wage: $35.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Cheyenne that require a graduate degree
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $78,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Total employment: 410 people (8.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 130 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Total employment: 280 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
lenetstan // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 90 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheyenne 7-day weather forecast
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $84,530
- Median hourly wage: $40.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $84,740
- Median hourly wage: $40.74
- Total employment: 100 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $90,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.43
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.47
- Total employment: 60 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $108,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Cheyenne
