Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Midland, Michigan

For many, a two-year associate degree can be the ticket to higher earning power at an affordable price. of associate degrees can be a stepping stone to a bachelor's, 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 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鈥攁nd money鈥攊nto 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 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 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, used data to find the highest-paying jobs in Midland 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.

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $47,470
- Median hourly wage: $22.82
- Total employment: 40 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $47,670
- Median hourly wage: $22.92
- Total employment: 300 people (7.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $47,980
- Median hourly wage: $23.07
- Total employment: 160 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $48,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.09
- Total employment: 190 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $48,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 260 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,680
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: 90 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $49,180
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 480 people (12.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.87
- Total employment: 80 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 80 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ESB Basic // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $49,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 690 people (18.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Total employment: 230 people (6.11 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: $50,840
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 110 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Socrates471 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Audio and video technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $51,070
- Median hourly wage: $24.55
- Total employment: 290 people (7.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.01
- Total employment: 50 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.32
- Total employment: 110 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Chefs and head cooks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 90 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 80 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $58,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 50 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the ar

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.52
- Total employment: 260 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $59,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 60 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 150 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 210 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 40 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 40 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 50 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 70 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 150 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 40 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 70 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 130 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $72,560
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $74,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.87
- Total employment: 130 people (3.4 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: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 160 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 90 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 210 people (5.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 110 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 90 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $80,240
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Total employment: 100 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $81,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.07
- Total employment: 430 people (11.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,970
- Median hourly wage: $44.70
- Total employment: 150 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $95,000
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 260 people (6.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $128,340
- Median hourly wage: $61.70
- Total employment: 220 people (5.81 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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