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 Sebring 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.
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
#50. Construction laborers
- Median annual wage: $38,070
- Median hourly wage: $18.30
- Total employment: 220 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#49. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $38,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 80 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
#48. Medical records specialists
- Median annual wage: $38,950
- Median hourly wage: $18.73
- Total employment: 50 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#47. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,250
- Median hourly wage: $18.87
- Total employment: 40 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#46. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $39,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#45. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,820
- Median hourly wage: $19.14
- Total employment: 40 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#44. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $40,710
- Median hourly wage: $19.57
- Total employment: 110 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#43. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,390
- Median hourly wage: $19.90
- Total employment: 100 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
#42. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,420
- Median hourly wage: $19.91
- Total employment: 90 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#41. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
- Median annual wage: $42,490
- Median hourly wage: $20.43
- Total employment: 290 people (10.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#40. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $42,810
- Median hourly wage: $20.58
- Total employment: 110 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#39. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $42,940
- Median hourly wage: $20.64
- Total employment: 90 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
#38. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $43,150
- Median hourly wage: $20.74
- Total employment: 230 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#37. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $43,260
- Median hourly wage: $20.80
- Total employment: 310 people (11.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
#36. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $43,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,670
- Median hourly wage: $21.00
- Total employment: 40 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#34. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $44,040
- Median hourly wage: $21.17
- Total employment: 60 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#33. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $44,300
- Median hourly wage: $21.30
- Total employment: 50 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
#32. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $45,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 130 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#31. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $45,960
- Median hourly wage: $22.10
- Total employment: 40 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#30. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $45,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 190 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
#29. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $46,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.46
- Total employment: 100 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#28. Paralegals and legal assistants
- Median annual wage: $46,800
- Median hourly wage: $22.50
- Total employment: 50 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#27. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $46,850
- Median hourly wage: $22.52
- Total employment: 50 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
#26. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $46,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.56
- Total employment: 230 people (8.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 40 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
#24. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $47,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Total employment: 30 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $47,700
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 70 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#22. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $48,940
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 70 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
#21. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 70 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
#20. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $50,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 40 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
#19. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $50,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 40 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#18. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $51,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 290 people (10.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#17. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 70 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#16. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.70
- Total employment: 130 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#15. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $53,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 70 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
#14. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 30 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
#13. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $55,010
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 190 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#12. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $56,060
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 240 people (8.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#11. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 100 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#10. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 70 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#9. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $56,730
- Median hourly wage: $27.28
- Total employment: 40 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 120 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 150 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
#6. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#5. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 100 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 50 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#3. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 160 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#2. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,060
- Median hourly wage: $31.28
- Total employment: 100 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $90,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.43
- Total employment: 30 people (1.19 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.
