Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
Also known as: Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Corrosion Control Technician (Corrosion Control Tech), Corrosion Technician (Corrosion Tech), Industrial Radiographer, NDE Specialist (Non-Destructive Evaluation Specialist), NDE Technician (Non-Destructive Evaluation Technician), NDI Technician (Non-Destructive Inspection Technician), NDT Coordinator (Non-Destructive Testing Coordinator), ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Slower than average)
What You'd Do
- Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
- Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
- Develop or use new non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission testing, leak testing, and thermal or infrared testing.
- Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
- Map the presence of imperfections within objects, using sonic measurements.
- Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
- 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.
- Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
- Identify defects in concrete or other building materials, using thermal or infrared testing.
- Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
- Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
- Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
- 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.
- Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
- Evaluate material properties, using radio astronomy, voltage and amperage measurement, or rheometric flow measurement.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
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Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.