Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
ManufacturingO*NET 17-3029.01United States
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
- Median annual earnings
- $78,066
- Projected change
- +5%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 66.75K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
68.2% of the workforce
Growing to 70.06K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What non-destructive testing specialists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
- Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
- Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
- Interpret the results of all methods of non-destructive testing (NDT), such as acoustic emission, electromagnetic, leak, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, neutron radiographic, radiographic, thermal or infrared, ultrasonic, vibration analysis, and visual testing.
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
- Visually examine materials, structures, or components for signs of corrosion, metal fatigue, cracks, or other flaws, using tools and equipment such as endoscopes, closed-circuit television systems, and fiber optics.
- Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
- Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
- Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
- Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
- Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
- Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.
- Map the presence of imperfections within objects, using sonic measurements.
- Develop or use new non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission testing, leak testing, and thermal or infrared testing.
- Identify defects in concrete or other building materials, using thermal or infrared testing.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $46,538
- 25th percentile
- $59,892
- 50th percentile
- $78,066
- 75th percentile
- $99,469
- 90th percentile
- $120,770
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $78,066 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+5%average or slower
202566,752 jobs
2035 projected70,059 jobs
3,307 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 68.2%
- Bachelor's degree
- 9.1%
- Some college
- 9.1%
- Associate degree
- 9.1%
- Certificate
- 4.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Non-Destructive Testing Inspectors2,248 postings
- 02Certified Welding Inspectors647 postings
- 03Technicians579 postings
- 04Corrosion Technicians517 postings
- 05Inspectors248 postings
- 06Welding Inspectors227 postings
- 07Non-Destructive Testing Technicians176 postings
- 08Corrosion Control Technicians143 postings
- 09Non-Destructive Technicians120 postings
- 10Non-Destructive Testers92 postings
- 11CWI Welding Inspectors88 postings
- 12API 510/570 Inspectors77 postings
- 13Corrosion Specialists70 postings
- 14Rope Access Technicians70 postings
- 15Certifying Scientists68 postings
- 16API Inspectors62 postings
- 17Spray Technicians49 postings
- 18Quality Control Inspectors48 postings
- 19Art Technicians40 postings
- 20NDI Technicians39 postings
Top employers
- 01Acuren Inspection596 postings
- 02Team Industrial Services289 postings
- 03Mistras Group220 postings
- 04Mistras Group Services148 postings
- 05GE Aerospace143 postings
- 06Aerotek128 postings
- 07Irisndt117 postings
- 08RTX117 postings
- 09Blue Origin108 postings
- 10Boeing108 postings
- 11Protect106 postings
- 12Northrop Grumman101 postings
- 13Applied Technical Services94 postings
- 14Precision Castparts93 postings
- 15SGS92 postings
- 16GE Vernova84 postings
- 17Pennoni80 postings
- 18Element Materials Technology63 postings
- 19MasTec63 postings
- 20Energy Transfer56 postings
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