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 Orlando 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.
SatawatK // Shutterstock
#50. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $62,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 1,310 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
#49. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 780 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
#48. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 220 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Neale Cousland // Shutterstock
#47. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#46. Drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 160 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
#45. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Total employment: 310 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
#44. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.98
- Total employment: 1,560 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
#43. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
industryviews // Shutterstock
#42. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#41. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 3,330 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
#40. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 280 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#39. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.98
- Total employment: 5,580 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#38. Funeral home managers
- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
#37. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $67,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.26
- Total employment: 510 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $68,420
- Median hourly wage: $32.89
- Total employment: 2,430 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#35. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $69,170
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#34. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $70,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: 940 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#33. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $71,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 240 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#32. Occupational therapy assistants
- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.51
- Total employment: 380 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#31. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $73,960
- Median hourly wage: $35.56
- Total employment: 1,910 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BGStock72 // Shutterstock
#30. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,050
- Median hourly wage: $35.60
- Total employment: 360 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
#29. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,580
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 10,140 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#28. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $76,480
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 780 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
#27. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 1,590 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock
#26. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 260 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
#25. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 2,330 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $77,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 5,230 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#23. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $77,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 770 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
#22. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 190 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#21. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Median annual wage: $79,360
- Median hourly wage: $38.16
- Total employment: Not available
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#20. Calibration technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
#19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Median annual wage: $79,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 340 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#18. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $80,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,600 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
#17. Respiratory therapists
- Median annual wage: $80,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.72
- Total employment: 1,110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
#16. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 820 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 1,000 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#14. Avionics technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,810
- Median hourly wage: $39.33
- Total employment: 250 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#13. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: Not available
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#12. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $82,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
#11. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $82,600
- Median hourly wage: $39.71
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $84,000
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 2,150 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
#9. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $86,760
- Median hourly wage: $41.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $91,350
- Median hourly wage: $43.92
- Total employment: 1,720 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
#7. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $94,530
- Median hourly wage: $45.45
- Total employment: 200 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $98,700
- Median hourly wage: $47.45
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#5. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,680
- Median hourly wage: $47.92
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
#4. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $103,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 730 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $105,130
- Median hourly wage: $50.54
- Total employment: 290 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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#2. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $125,040
- Median hourly wage: $60.11
- Total employment: 260 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
#1. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $147,040
- Median hourly wage: $70.69
- Total employment: 180 people (0.13 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.
