Also called: Nondestructive Testing Level III, NDT Engineer
Top-level expert in finding hidden cracks in metal without cutting it open, who writes the inspection methods and certifies other inspectors.
An airline needs a new way to check engine fan blades for tiny cracks. You design the ultrasound test, prove it finds flaws smaller than a grain of rice, write the procedure, and train the technicians who will use it.
Aerospace, pipelines and power plants pay the most.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 8 years after high school. Years as an NDT technician plus ASNT Level III exams; many have an associate or bachelor's in engineering technology.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, 2-year college, Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Nondestructive Testing Technology, Engineering Technology.
Growing faster than average.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI reads more ultrasound and X-ray scans automatically; writing procedures and certifying inspectors stay human.
Classes: Physics, Algebra II, Welding CTE, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3029.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.