Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Medium44.70%
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$42,900
Median$73,500
High (90th %)$109,190
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Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
The occupation of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Specialists is assessed to have an automation risk of 44.7%, which is slightly below the base risk of 45.3% for similar technical roles. This risk rating reflects a job where automation can address many standard testing and evaluation processes, but robust specialist knowledge and adaptability still provide substantial barriers to full replacement by technology. The primary reason automation risk does not surpass 50% is due to the complex decision-making and interpretive skills required, particularly when working with varied materials and evolving standards in testing technology. Among the top three most automatable tasks, activities such as interpreting the results of various NDT methods, evaluating test outcomes against relevant codes, and identifying defects using ultrasonic techniques are highly susceptible to automation. Advanced sensors and artificial intelligence can parse massive testing data sets, match results to established criteria, and identify common types of defects with increasing accuracy. As software becomes better at recognizing patterns in radiographics, acoustics, or vibrations, machines can take over much of the routine analysis that once required a specialist’s eye, especially in environments focused on high-volume, repetitive inspections. Conversely, the tasks most resistant to automation involve activities that demand complex scientific reasoning, adaptability, and creativity. Evaluating material properties using specialized or unconventional methods like radio astronomy or rheometry requires a level of insight and problem-solving beyond current AI capabilities. Likewise, identifying subtle or ambiguous defects in challenging materials or developing entirely new testing methods demands a blend of technical knowledge, intuition, and originality. These bottleneck skills—such as originality, which is present at rates of only 2.5% and 2.9% in relevant tasks—suggest that while machines are excellent at optimizing existing processes, the capacity to innovate or adapt NDT for novel applications is a domain where human specialists remain essential.
Filter by Automatable Status
Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
Partially Automatable
Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
Partially Automatable
Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
Partially Automatable
Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
Partially Automatable
Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
Partially Automatable
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.
Partially Automatable
Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
Partially Automatable
Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
Partially Automatable
Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
Non-Automatable
Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
Non-Automatable
Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.
Non-Automatable
Map the presence of imperfections within objects, using sonic measurements.
Automatable
Identify defects in concrete or other building materials, using thermal or infrared testing.
Partially Automatable
Evaluate material properties, using radio astronomy, voltage and amperage measurement, or rheometric flow measurement.
Partially Automatable
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.
Partially Automatable
Develop or use new non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission testing, leak testing, and thermal or infrared testing.
Partially Automatable
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisSystems AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesWritingSpeakingMathematicsScienceActive LearningLearning StrategiesMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationInstructingService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionInstallationProgrammingOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationTime ManagementManagement of Financial ResourcesManagement of Personnel Resources
Arm-Hand SteadinessAuditory AttentionCategory FlexibilityControl PrecisionDeductive ReasoningDepth PerceptionDynamic FlexibilityDynamic StrengthExplosive StrengthExtent FlexibilityFar VisionFinger DexterityFlexibility of ClosureFluency of IdeasGlare SensitivityGross Body CoordinationGross Body EquilibriumHearing SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingManual DexterityMathematical ReasoningMemorizationMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionNight VisionNumber FacilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionOriginalityPerceptual SpeedPeripheral VisionProblem SensitivityRate ControlReaction TimeResponse OrientationSelective AttentionSound LocalizationSpatial OrientationSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionSpeed of ClosureSpeed of Limb MovementStaminaStatic StrengthTime SharingTrunk StrengthVisual Color DiscriminationVisualizationWrist-Finger SpeedWritten ComprehensionWritten Expression
Education and TrainingTherapy and CounselingAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyPsychologySociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyFine ArtsPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaTransportationGeographyMedicine and DentistryForeign LanguageEnglish LanguageHistory and ArcheologySales and Marketing
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersDocumenting/Recording InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
National Instruments NI Motion AssistantVisualization Sciences Group VSG Avizo FireVisualization Sciences Group VSG Open InventorOperating system softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordSAP softwareIBM NotesMicrosoft AccessDassault Systemes CATIAMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointGeographic information system GIS systemsGE Sensing & Inspection Technologies Rhythm UTGE Sensing & Inspection Technologies Rhythm UTNational Instruments NI Motion AssistantVisualization Sciences Group VSG Avizo FireVisualization Sciences Group VSG Open InventorOperating system softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectSAP softwareMicrosoft AccessDassault Systemes CATIAMicrosoft OutlookGeographic information system GIS systemsFractal Concept SoftScanAutodesk AutoCADNational Instruments LabVIEWNational Instruments LabVIEWAutodesk AutoCADFractal Concept SoftScanNational Instruments DAQ AssistantNational Instruments DAQ AssistantNational Instruments NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection AINational Instruments NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection AIIBM NotesMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Word
Chemical Engineers
Medium50.90%
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Industrial Engineers
Medium52.84%
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
Validation Engineers
Medium45.72%
Design or plan protocols for equipment or processes to produce products meeting internal and external purity, safety, and quality requirements.
Mechanical Engineers
Medium50.83%
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Medium35.83%
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium44.30%
Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Medium46.60%
Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
Robotics Technicians
Medium42.51%
Build, install, test, or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium48.30%
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium50.78%
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium51.17%
Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium48.38%
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Medium49.22%
Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Medium50.00%
Execute or adapt procedures and techniques for calibrating measurement devices, by applying knowledge of measurement science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electronics, sometimes under the direction of engineering staff. Determine measurement standard suitability for calibrating measurement devices. May perform preventive maintenance on equipment. May perform corrective actions to address identified calibration problems.
Photonics Technicians
Medium49.31%
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
Chemical Technicians
Medium50.77%
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
Nuclear Technicians
Medium50.70%
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Medium55.41%
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Medium43.09%
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Medium63.83%
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.