Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-3029.01
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
- US jobs
- 59,930 (SOC 17-3029 group, "Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other")
- Median wage
- $78,350 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of non-destructive testing specialists?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 7% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 17-3029 group).
- 12%Document technical designs, procedures, or activitiesNot measured
- 11%Analyze performance of systems or equipmentNot measured
- 11%Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipmentNot measured
- 9%Assemble equipment or componentsNot measured
- 5%Test characteristics of materials or productsNot measured
- 5%Test performance of equipment or systemsNot measured
- 3%Inspect completed work or finished productsNot measured
- 3%Develop models of systems, processes, or productsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 56.9%GPT-6 Astra (max) with Codex 0.154.0 · 21 Sep 2026Emerging
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 58.2%Codex + GPT-6 Astra (max) · 3 Sep 2026Emerging
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
- 1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
- Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
- 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.
- Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
- Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
- Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
- Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
- Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.
Other job titles for this occupation (24)
Industrial Radiographer · NDE Technician (Non-Destructive Evaluation Technician) · NDT Coordinator (Non-Destructive Testing Coordinator) · NDT Inspector (Non-Destructing Testing Inspector) · NDT Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Specialist) · NDT Technical Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Technical Specialist) · NDT Technician (Non-Destructive Testing Technician) · Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) · Corrosion Control Technician (Corrosion Control Tech) · Corrosion Technician (Corrosion Tech) · NDE Specialist (Non-Destructive Evaluation Specialist) · NDI Technician (Non-Destructive Inspection Technician) · NDT Engineer (Non-Destructive Testing Engineer) · NDT Inspector (Non-Destructive Testing Inspector) · NDT Scientist (Non-Destructive Testing Scientist) · NDT Technical Advisor (Non-Destructive Testing Technical Advisor) · Non-Destructive Technician (Non-Destructive Tech) · Non-Destructive Tester · Penetrant Inspector · Predictive Maintenance Specialist · Predictive Maintenance Technician (Predictive Maintenance Tech) · Rope Access Technician (Rope Access Tech) · Test Technician (Test Tech) · Vibration Technician (Vibration Tech)