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NDT Trainee

Take the first steps in an exciting and lucrative career in a field that keeps the world safe.


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Approximate Annual Income for NDT Trainees

$36k-$60k*

According to The ASNT Foundation Compensation Survey, the average hourly income for trainees is $23/hr. Annual income varies based on hours worked per week and overtime.

Survey is based on US salaries and all rates are in US dollars.

When you’re an NDT trainee, you’re an essential part of a crucial process for many different companies and organizations across different industries; as such, you are highly in demand and have the potential to earn more than people of similar levels of experience in other industries.

What Does an NDT Trainee Do?

An NDT trainee (or NDT assistant or Level I) learns all aspects of inspection services from a technician, performs equipment setup and calibrations, and makes evaluations.

Imagine a role in which you jumpstart a career that keeps the world safe by:

  • Assisting with equipment setup and calibration.

  • Participating in inspections in accordance with procedures and standards.

  • Learning from experienced technicians and practitioners.

This career offers mentorship and training in a crucial industry where the skills you’ll develop are in high demand and the possibilities are endless.

*As with any job, the salary range for NDT trainees is affected by a variety of factors including:

  • Your geographical location

  • The industry you work in

  • Your company size

  • Your years and types of experience

  • The number and variety of methods you are certified in

What Does It Take to Be an NDT Trainee?

The term NDT trainee applies to someone who assists with various tasks that are essential for performing inspections according to quality standards.

On this career path, you’ll typically be working toward a technician certification by logging your training and on-the-job (OJT) performance. You’ll work with experienced NDT practitioners and technicians to complete inspections according to quality standards.

As an NDT trainee, you could be part of many different types of inspections. Consider a few examples:

Different Environments

  • On factory floors

  • Inside quality labs

  • Outside on oil rigs

  • Underneath bridges

  • On top of wind turbines

Different Organizational Structures

  • Under the supervision of certified personnel

  • Assisting in the field

  • In a single location

  • On the road and across sites

Different Job Tasks

  • Equipment setup

  • Calibration

  • Applying testing criteria

  • Making evaluations

Different Responsibilities

  • Assisting in finding flaws and defects

  • Helping to identify problems

  • Supporting certified personnel in advising on solutions

  • Assisting in recommending improvements

A female worker in safety gear smiles while holding a tablet in an industrial setting.

What’s Next? Career Pathways for NDT Trainee

As an NDT trainee, you’re learning knowledge and skills that open doors to career advancement in many directions.

As your experience grows, you may find yourself with options for transitioning your skills into new companies, locations, applications, or even across industries.

See where your advanced skills can lead.

NDT Technician

Independently perform critical nondestructive testing that directly contributes to the reliability and safety of infrastructure worldwide

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