When it comes to picking a career, a growing number of women are opting for non-traditional jobs. That means they're in careers that are typically held by men. We introduce you to three local women who are breaking barriers in the working world.

A day at the office for Lisa Steever doesn't involve a desk. For the last 10 years she's been a plumber for Krier & Blaine Heating and Air Conditioning. It's no secret that the majority of plumbers are men, but that didn't keep Lisa from pursuing the career.

She says, "I never knew there was a restriction on what kind of jobs I could do. I'd been doing welding and painting prior to that, so it was just a job with an income and that was about it."

Now Lisa says when she looks back on a job she takes pride in it, and knowing others might be inspired by her choice of career.  She says, "There's not a lot of us out there. But I do see women in the different trades on the job sites. I'm not the only one."

But Lisa says don't let her dirty hands fool you, she's still in touch with her feminine side. She says, "On the weekends I try to paint my fingernails and do my hair up and actually pretend like I'm a girl." But it seems on the job, she's simply one of the guys.

Lisa's Co-worker, Doug Sandersfeld says, "It's hard work, but she does a fine job with it."

So Lisa Steever can work a wrench with the best of them, but now you're about to meet a young woman who has the potential of saving a life every day she's at work.  Shannon Galbreath is one of 3 female firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue. She says she was looking for a more rewarding job, but did have some reservations about whether she was cut out to be a firefighter.

Shannon says, "It was a challenge to think that maybe I could do this job physically. I thought you'd have to be a big tough guy." But shannon passed the physical test and has now been with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue for more than 5 years. She says when there's an emergency, being a female firefighter among the ranks of men, can be a big asset. She says, "They say that it does help, like if somebody's pregnant. They always know i'm the one they can push in there, because the girls will feel more comfortable with me."

A non-traditional career is defined as one where more than 75% of the workforce is of the opposite gender. For women, many non-traditional careers fall into the categories of labor-intensive, scientific and technical and supervisory. Colonel Ruth Christopherson with the South Dakota Air National Guard, fits into the supervisory category. She is now the Chief of Staff in headquarters at the air base in Sioux Falls.

Christopherson says, "I was never shown any disrespect for being a woman as far as, no, you can't do that, you're a woman. No, I won't let you lift this heavy thing you're a woman." But Christopherson admits women in the Air Guard weren't always so common. Christopherson says, "You'd go to another base, you'd go to the V.A. Hospital and it's like, oh, you're a woman, if you were in uniform. The older members would always question it."

Back then she says, women were assumed to be nurses. Christopherson says now many people just assume she flies jets. She says, "It's immediately assumed by both civilians and by military members, anything's possible."

Colonel Christopherson says gender aside, she has a real passion for what she does, and she says that's the most important thing. Christopherson says, "Hopefully, my job of what I do has inspired others." Colonel Christopherson is well on her way to becoming the first female general in the South Dakota Air National Guard.