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South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin
December 2021
Can you name that career?
By completing this fun Jeopardy-style quiz, you will quickly find out if you are an occupation expert or a novice. Either way, we have you covered. All the occupational information you need is right at your fingertips 24/7 365.
We’ll share clues below about a specific occupation. Based on those clues, select (from the lettered, multiple choices) the correct occupation. Check your answer using the "Check the answer" link below each question. Keep track of how many you get correct, then check your labor market intelligence quotient (LMIQ).
This occupation is one of several occupations for which apprenticeship training is available in South Dakota. It also is on the South Dakota Hot Careers list. (Learn how hot careers are determined.) Workers in this occupation raise, place and unite iron or steel girders, columns and other structural members to form complete structural frameworks. They may erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings. The annual average wage for this occupation is $42,599.
A. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
B. Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
C. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
D. Sheet Metal Workers
These workers drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). They may be required to unload the truck. This occupation requires a commercial drivers’ license. This is the number one occupation on South Dakota’s Top 30 Careers list. (Learn more about the Top 30 Careers list and how it is determined.) The annual mean (also known as average) wage for this occupation in 2020 was $46,232.
A. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
B. Cargo and Freight Agents
C. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator
D. Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers
Workers in this occupation earned an annual mean wage of $57,352 in 2020. They lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures. Apprenticeship training is available for this occupation.
A. Stonemason
B. Helpers, Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons and Tile and Marble Setters
C. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
D. Brickmasons and Blockmasons
This occupation is the second highest paying occupation on South Dakota’s Top 30 Careers list. It boasts an annual average wage of $104,815, and annual openings in the 2018-2028 projections of 191 openings per year. Workers in this occupation sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry and electronics.
A. Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representatives
B. Sales Engineers
C. Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representatives
D. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services and Travel
This occupation is part of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Occupations Career Cluster. It also appears on South Dakota’s Hot Career list. Workers in this occupation operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. The annual mean wage for this occupation was $45,830 in 2020. This occupation must be licensed by the South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources.
A. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
B. Environmental Scientists and Specialists, including Health
C. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
D. Hydrologists
Part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Occupations Career Cluster, this occupation has a mean annual wage of $80,499. People who choose this career path perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines and other mechanically functioning equipment. They oversee installation, operation, maintenance and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water and steam systems. This occupation is licensed by the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions.
A. Engineering Managers
B. Mechanical Engineers
C. Electrical Engineers
D. Industrial Engineers
This occupation is found in one of the state’s largest growth industries to 2028, Healthcare. It ranks second on South Dakota’s Top 30 Careers list. Workers in this occupation assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans and maintain medical records. They administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent or disabled patients. They may also advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. This occupation must be licensed by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. In 2020 the average annual wage for these workers was $60,956.
A. Nurse Anesthetists
B. Nurse Practitioners
C. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
D. Registered Nurse
People who pursue this career directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. This occupation is on the South Dakota Hot Careers list, and the annual average wage is $62,995.
A. Industrial Engineers
B. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
C. Industrial Production Managers
D. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers
This occupation is on >South Dakota’s Top 30 Careers list. The annual average wage in 2020 was $44,793. There are projected to be 349 annual openings for these workers from 2018 through 2028. These employees teach students basic, social and other formative skills in public or private schools at the elementary level. This occupation is certified through the South Dakota Department of Education.
A. Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
B. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
C. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
D. Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Apprentices will have a bright future when they complete their South Dakota apprenticeship program, because this occupation is not only on South Dakota’s Hot Careers list but it also makes an appearance on South Dakota’sTop 30 Careers list. Workers in this occupation install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. They must ensure work is completed in accordance with relevant codes. The annual average wage for this occupation is $47,672. This is also a licensed occupation in South Dakota.
A. Electrical Engineers
B. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
C. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
D. Electricians
The Health Science Career Cluster Poster lists this occupation. The annual average wage for this occupation is $74,580. These workers assess, plan, organize and participate in rehabilitative programs which help build or restore vocational, homemaking and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.
A. Recreational Therapists
B. Occupational Therapists
C. Massage Therapists
D. Physical Therapists
According to the Manufacturing in South Dakota flyer this occupation is on the South Dakota Hot Careers list. These workers set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments. They may also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines by applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout and machining procedures. In 2020 the annual average wage for this occupation was $41,586.
A. Machinists
B. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
C. Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
D. Rolling Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Workers in this occupation set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure or other printing machines, including short-run offset printing presses. The 2020 average annual wage was $39,578. This occupation can be found in the career cluster of Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications.
A. Graphic Artists
B. Prepress Technicians and Workers
C. Print Binding and Finishing Workers
D. Printing Press Operators
This occupation falls in the Finance Career Cluster in the "Learn where you fit" portion of the Career Destinations 2020 flyer. This occupation not only made the list for Hot Careers in South Dakota, but it is also in the top five on the Top 30 Careers list. The 2020 annual average wage for this occupation is $69,174. Workers in this occupation analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liabilities or other financial activities within an organization. Some workers may examine and analyze accounting records to determine the financial status of establishments and prepare financial reports concerning operating procedures.
A. Budget Analysts
B. Personal Financial Advisors
C. Financial Examiners
D. Accountants and Auditors
This occupation teaches students in one or more subjects such as English, mathematics or social studies at the secondary level in public or private schools. These employees are generally designated according to the subject matter they specialize in. Secretary of Labor and Regulation, Marcia Hultman, specialized in English while employed in this occupation. The annual average wage for this occupation was $45,810 in 2020.
A. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
B. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
C. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
D. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
How Did You Do?
After checking your responses against the linked answers, tally the number of questions you got correct. How many questions did you get right? Use the scale below to determine your LMIQ (labor market intelligence quotient).
Expert
If you got 14 or more answers correct, you are an expert. You either are an occupational savant or you have mastered the career exploration portion of LMIC. Congratulations and good job!
Authority
If you got 12 right, you are doing great! You might not be an expert yet, but you have the ability to gather occupational information and are inquisitive enough to seek out answers.
Specialist
If you got 11 right, you did good! If you spend a little more time in the career exploration portion of the LMIC website, you will be an expert in no time.
Proficient
If you got 9 right, you did okay! If an occupational expert is who you want to be, you can do this. Just click on some of the links in the questions, relax and have fun.
Novice
If you got 8 or fewer answers correct you have room to grow as an occupational expert. But don’t be discouraged! Anyone can be an expert. All it takes is knowing where to look for the answers and some fancy clicking. Soon, you’ll be exploring careers like a pro! Imagine the things you will learn!