Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

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Labor Market Information Center

Occupational Profiles of Hot Careers

For each occupation designated as a Hot Career, there is an Occupational Profile (in Adobe PDF format) available below. The occupations below are grouped in the nationally used Career Clusters, categories of similar occupations. Click on any occupation of interest for the Occupational Profile for that occupation. Occupations designated as Top 30 Hot Careers (the 30 with the very greatest projected demand) are denoted with a Top 30 career designation symbol.

See a list of what each Occupational Profile includes, including a great deal of information from O*Net Online.

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Agricultural Equipment Operators Top 30 career designation

Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Top 30 career designation

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Architecture and Construction

Carpenters Top 30 career designation

Civil Engineers

Electricians Top 30 career designation

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Top 30 career designation

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Highway Maintenance Workers Top 30 career designation

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Top 30 career designation

Painters, Construction and Maintenance

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Top 30 career designation

Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications

No occupations in this cluster are Hot Careers, but we encourage you to explore South Dakota careers in this cluster which offer good opportunities.

Business Management and Administration

Business Operations Specialists, All Other

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

General and Operations Managers Top 30 career designation

Human Resources Specialists

Management Analysts Top 30 career designation

Education and Training

Coaches and Scouts Top 30 career designation

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Top 30 career designation

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Top 30 career designation

Finance

Accountants and Auditors Top 30 career designation

Insurance Sales Agents Top 30 career designation

Loan Officers

Government & Public Administration

Compliance Officers

Health Science

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Dental Assistants

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Top 30 career designation

Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical Records Specialists

Nurse Practitioners

Registered Nurses Top 30 career designation

Hospitality & Tourism

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers

Food Service Managers Top 30 career designation

Human Services

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Clergy Top 30 career designation

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

Information Technology

Computer User Support Specialists

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Software Developers

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Correctional Officers and Jailers

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Manufacturing

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Top 30 career designation

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Machinists

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Top 30 career designation

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Top 30 career designation

Marketing

First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Top 30 career designation

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Parts Salespersons Top 30 career designation

Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, except Technical and Scientific Products Top 30 career designation

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Top 30 career designation

Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Top 30 career designation

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

First-Line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers, Exc Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Top 30 career designation

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Top 30 career designation

Light Truck Drivers Top 30 career designation

Each Occupational Profile includes such information as:

  • A description of what workers do on the job
  • Work interest areas (compatible with Holland's Model)
  • Work values
  • Abilities
  • Basic skills needed
  • Education and training needed, including apprenticeship opportunities when applicable
  • Preferred levels for the National Career Readiness Certificate
  • Industries where workers are employed in South Dakota
  • South Dakota Employment and demand projections for 2022 to 2032
  • Wage data (median and average annual wages for 2023). If wage data is not included in the Occupational Profile, please see this data table specifically for Hot Careers.

See explanations of the terms used in the Occupational Profiles, based on the O*Net Content Model.

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