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Ten Good Reasons to Consider a Career in NDT
  1. NDT is an exciting and challenging career field. Our society relies very heavily on NDT technology to keep it as safe a place to live as possible. A great deal of responsibility is placed in the hands of NDT technicians and engineers who keep our aircraft, trains and automobiles operating safely; our pipelines and chemical plants from leaking; and our bridges from collapsing. Therefore, NDT equipment and methods are constantly changing as engineers and scientists work to make the inspection technology better. NDT personnel are highly trained individuals who must continue to learn to stay abreast with changing technology.

  2. It is a growing career field. Heightened safety and environmental awareness along with demands from consumers for high quality products continue to cause the use of NDT technology to grow. At one time NDT technology was limited to a few high technology and high risk industries such as aerospace and nuclear power. However, today NDT technology is used by a wide variety of industries as the work increases to keep product quality high and scrap rates low.

  3. It is a high technology field driven by computer technology. If you like working with computers and electronics, you will probably like NDT. Computers continue to see more use in both performing scans to collect data or in data logging and processing.

  4. The field of NDT is filled with opportunities for career growth and advancement. Since the effective application of NDT technologies generally increases with experience, NDT personnel generally gain responsibility the longer they work. Also, the shortage of engineers with NDT backgrounds has made it possible for individuals with NDT technician degrees to easily move into engineering positions. NDT personnel often find themselves in sales, marketing, and management positions. Of course, some also become private contractors and business owners.

  5. The demand for qualified technicians is high. The importance of NDT in our society combined with its growing use, continues to provide individuals with NDT background many employment opportunities. Also, college programs are currently failing to provide enough qualified candidates to fill the needs of industry. This combined with the fact that high numbers of NDT workforce will be retiring in the near future, suggest that the demand for personnel with NDT training will continue to increase. The placement of graduates from many NDT programs is 100%.

  6. The pay is good. Money is not everything but it sure helps, right? Due to the level of responsibility carried by NDT personnel and the shortage of qualified workers, salaries are relatively high. Starting salaries upon graduation with a two-year Associates of Applied Science Degree in NDT Technology typically range from $25,000 to $45,000 depending on the job location and responsibilities. The average starting salaries for graduates with Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering range from about $41,000 to $53,000.

  7. Education and training is readily available. Their are a number of colleges and universities that offer classes and degrees in NDT technology. Please visit the web pages on education for more information.

  8. There are many different types of jobs. It is relatively easy to find "a job," but finding a job that you really like is a little more difficult. In the field of NDT job conditions vary considerably. If you are a person that loves the outdoors, there are jobs that take you outdoors. If you like a manufacturing setting, there are jobs in manufacturing facilities and if you prefer the laboratory, there are jobs there too. There are even jobs at really exciting places like NASA and offshore oil drilling platforms.

  9. There are NDT personnel working in all parts of the country. Since the technology is used by a large variety of industries, NDT jobs are not limited to one geographical area. However, most jobs are located in metropolitan areas where large manufacturing facilities are located.

  10. The work can be very rewarding. NDT personnel work hard in helping to keep products and systems operating safely. The sense that you are making the world a safer place by helping to prevent accidents and protecting the environment can be very gratifying.