Career Training Path › South Dakota › Lake Area Technical College
Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, South Dakota · Public technical college
Address: 1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, SD 57201 · Phone: (605) 882-5284 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $40,770 | $52,750 | $61,300 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $45,500 | $58,120 | $65,200 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,670 | $51,160 | $61,610 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,100 | $49,440 | $59,360 |
| Medical assistants | $35,980 | $41,870 | $45,870 |
| Dental assistants | $38,190 | $47,900 | $57,890 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $32,090 | $49,800 | $56,200 |
| Machinists | $39,280 | $50,890 | $58,750 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | $47,260 | $59,500 | $63,460 |
| Construction laborers | $35,180 | $45,710 | $48,120 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $31,130 | $36,800 | $43,570 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $51,160 | $75,750 | $83,080 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in South Dakota (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 89 | $41,649 | $40,821 | $12,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 78 | $35,901 | $37,856 | $9,500 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 34 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 28 | $18,226 | $21,508 | $12,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 27 | $41,649 | $40,821 | $12,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 22 | $32,677 | $37,088 | $12,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 21 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 20 | $31,150 | $33,993 | $12,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | $32,684 | $31,314 | $5,500 |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 18 | $37,581 | $36,560 | $11,000 |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 14 | $32,677 | $37,088 | $12,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 13 | $41,649 | $40,821 | $12,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 12 | $35,901 | $37,856 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | $37,581 | $36,560 | $11,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ground Transportation | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $45,852 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 4 | $32,677 | $37,088 | $12,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 4 | $41,649 | $40,821 | $12,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 2–4 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.