# Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

> Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/non-destructive-testing-specialists
- SOC code: 17-3029.01
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $78,350 (10th percentile $47,030, 90th percentile $118,330)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.8%
- Openings a year: 5,400
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 66 |
| Artistic (A) | 6 |
| Social (S) | 7 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 59 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 96/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 94/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 88/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 81/100)
- Processing Information (importance 79/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Learning, Operations Monitoring, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing, Mechanical, Administration and Management

## Also called

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), NDT Engineer (Non-Destructive Testing Engineer), NDT Inspector (Non-Destructing Testing Inspector)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1506) (CIP 1506, 576 colleges)
- [Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1503) (CIP 1503, 553 colleges)
- [Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1504) (CIP 1504, 512 colleges)
- [Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1508) (CIP 1508, 319 colleges)
- [Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1500) (CIP 1500, 288 colleges)
- [Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1505) (CIP 1505, 283 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1512) (CIP 1512, 229 colleges)
- [Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1517) (CIP 1517, 224 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1511) (CIP 1511, 121 colleges)
- [Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1501) (CIP 1501, 99 colleges)
- [Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1509) (CIP 1509, 47 colleges)
- Military Applied Sciences (CIP 2903, 14 colleges)
- Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician (CIP 1514, 14 colleges)
- Military Systems and Maintenance Technology (CIP 2904, 8 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $97,197 | $126,209 | $26,935 |
| [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute RPI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-rpi-2221) | Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $90,346 | $125,531 | $22,125 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $120,219 | not reported |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Engineering-Related Fields | $73,429 | $114,572 | $19,000 |
| [University of Houston-Downtown](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-houston-downtown-2922) | Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $79,102 | $112,244 | not reported |
| [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-institute-of-technology-2034) | Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $77,100 | $112,169 | $27,000 |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $73,259 | $103,769 | $12,943 |
| [Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oklahoma-state-university-institute-of-technology-2018) | Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $85,065 | $102,357 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineering-and-operations-technologists-and-technicians): $82,890 median pay
- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Automotive Engineering Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-engineering-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $78,190 median pay
- [Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/inspectors-testers-sorters-samplers-and-weighers): $48,570 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.