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

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 Burlington 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 science jobs for people in Burlington

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Chemical technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 330 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 280 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 460 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Burlington October 2025

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $63,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 810 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lighthunter // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Medical equipment repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SeventyFour // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

- Median annual wage: $63,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 340 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Burlington

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 380 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 850 people (7.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Total employment: Not available

David Spates // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 440 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Burlington

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 1,120 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $66,350
- Median hourly wage: $31.90
- Total employment: 1,510 people (12.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $66,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $67,520
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: Not available

welcomia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $67,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.50
- Total employment: 130 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.51
- Total employment: 640 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $67,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,590
- Median hourly wage: $33.46
- Total employment: 320 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Burlington

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,020
- Median hourly wage: $34.15
- Total employment: 810 people (6.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $73,580
- Median hourly wage: $35.38
- Total employment: 150 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hitdelight // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Architectural and civil drafters

- Median annual wage: $73,990
- Median hourly wage: $35.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $74,450
- Median hourly wage: $35.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 330 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $75,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.52
- Total employment: 240 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $76,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.64
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 420 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,450
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 100 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,760
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 140 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 430 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 120 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Burlington?

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 250 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.07
- Total employment: 290 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $81,800
- Median hourly wage: $39.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gearstd // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $81,840
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $85,690
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Burlington

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $99,530
- Median hourly wage: $47.85
- Total employment: 180 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $100,950
- Median hourly wage: $48.54
- Total employment: 250 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $103,930
- Median hourly wage: $49.97
- Total employment: Not available

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $106,270
- Median hourly wage: $51.09
- Total employment: 110 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $106,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.25
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 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: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Burlington

爆料TV