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

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#50. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.51
- Total employment: 4,120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $82,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.52
- Total employment: 3,740 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $82,900
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 4,040 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $83,770
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $83,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 330 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $84,610
- Median hourly wage: $40.68
- Total employment: 340 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $85,400
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 4,810 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: Not available

#41. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

- Median annual wage: $85,560
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: 110 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $86,300
- Median hourly wage: $41.49
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $86,330
- Median hourly wage: $41.51
- Total employment: 2,480 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $88,290
- Median hourly wage: $42.45
- Total employment: 10,560 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $89,090
- Median hourly wage: $42.83
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 12,560 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $89,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.25
- Total employment: 2,570 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $90,020
- Median hourly wage: $43.28
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.81
- Total employment: 80 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $95,010
- Median hourly wage: $45.68
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Median annual wage: $97,110
- Median hourly wage: $46.69
- Total employment: 1,940 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $97,970
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 3,080 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $98,030
- Median hourly wage: $47.13
- Total employment: 6,420 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Median annual wage: $98,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $98,890
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 14,230 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $99,540
- Median hourly wage: $47.86
- Total employment: 16,690 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $100,420
- Median hourly wage: $48.28
- Total employment: 2,450 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $101,200
- Median hourly wage: $48.66
- Total employment: 7,760 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $101,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.69
- Total employment: Not available

#21. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $102,370
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 2,170 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $102,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 2,640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Nuclear medicine technologists

- Median annual wage: $103,170
- Median hourly wage: $49.60
- Total employment: 500 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 600 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $104,790
- Median hourly wage: $50.38
- Total employment: 14,730 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $104,810
- Median hourly wage: $50.39
- Total employment: 630 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $106,360
- Median hourly wage: $51.13
- Total employment: 570 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $106,510
- Median hourly wage: $51.21
- Total employment: 660 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,180
- Median hourly wage: $52.01
- Total employment: 9,320 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $108,650
- Median hourly wage: $52.24
- Total employment: 410 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $108,890
- Median hourly wage: $52.35
- Total employment: 23,340 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $109,870
- Median hourly wage: $52.82
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $112,230
- Median hourly wage: $53.96
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $114,030
- Median hourly wage: $54.82
- Total employment: 2,140 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Hoist and winch operators

- Median annual wage: $116,120
- Median hourly wage: $55.83
- Total employment: 290 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Radiation therapists

- Median annual wage: $120,360
- Median hourly wage: $57.87
- Total employment: Not available

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

- Median annual wage: $129,360
- Median hourly wage: $62.19
- Total employment: 1,470 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $136,440
- Median hourly wage: $65.60
- Total employment: 4,190 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $141,380
- Median hourly wage: $67.97
- Total employment: 720 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $160,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 640 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Air traffic controllers

- Median annual wage: $184,930
- Median hourly wage: $88.91
- Total employment: 840 people (0.19 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.

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