Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Overview
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists has a national median salary of $78,350 per year, with +2.8% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.
Description
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
Work Values
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
Responsibilities
Tasks
- 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.
- Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
- Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
- Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Getting Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Processing Information
- Working with Computers
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Detailed Work Activities
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
T-A-S-K
Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge
Technology Skills
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Spreadsheet software
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
Skills
- Quality Control Analysis
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
Education
Education Levels of Current Workers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for an associate's degree.
Certificates
Certifications applicable to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists:
Income & Employability
Income Percentile
The median (50th percentile) is the middle wage; 10% earn less than the low figure and 10% earn more than the high figure.
| Low (10%) | $47,030 |
| Median (50%) | $78,350 |
| High (90%) | $118,330 |
Income by Experience
How pay typically grows from entry level (0–2 yrs) to expert (8+ yrs).
Experience data not available.
Employability
There are currently 62,400 jobs in this career path (2025). That number is projected to grow to 64,100 by 2035, a +2.8% change.
+2.8% growthVideo Resources
Training Programs
1 program at 1 school on Career School App prepare students for a career as Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, including Quality Control Inspector (1).
Related Careers
This site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Certification, licence and career video information is sourced from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Wage, employment and outlook figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and the Employment Projections program. Figures describe the occupation, not any particular program or graduate.
Career cluster definitions are from Advance CTE.
Pay-by-experience bands are from Lightcast (as recent as July 2025).