Nondestructive Tester

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Work Tasks

• Look for problems in products and materials
• Test products without destroying them; record test results
• Test products using special instruments
• Suggest ways to change new products and make them better
• Work for commercial labs, the government, consulting firms, and various industries, including aerospace, heavy equipment and machinery, oil, chemicals, and utilities
• Work with test orders, specifications, products to be tested, testing equipment, cleaners, developers, measuring instruments, graphs, statistics, reports, drawings, and photographs

Salary, Size & Growth

• $46,500 average per year ($22.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (61,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A high school diploma and courses in engineering technology
• Employers Prefer: A 2-year degree in engineering technology and knowledge of non-destructive testing methods
• Skills/Courses: Courses in math, physics and engineering.