Non-Destructive Testing Specialists build quality control analysis, operations monitoring and operation and control skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (83%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 83% | $48,570 | — | None |
| 2 | Chemical Technicians | 80% | $60,390 | — | Certificate or associate |
| 3 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 77% | $110,240Pay for the broader BLS group “Nuclear Technicians” | Not compared | Certificate or associate |
| 4 | Gas Plant Operators | 76% | $87,820 | — | None |
| 5 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 75% | $102,040Pay for the broader BLS group “Power Plant Operators” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | 74% | $62,470Pay for the broader BLS group “Plant and System Operators, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Nuclear Technicians | 73% | $110,240 | — | Certificate or associate |
| 8 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 73% | $53,750 | — | None |
| 9 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 73% | $58,040 | — | None |
| 10 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 73% | $60,020 | — | None |
Compared with Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as non-destructive testing specialists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
83% skill match · $48,570
Management of Financial Resources · Operations Analysis
80% skill match · $60,390
Operations Analysis · Repairing · Management of Material Resources
77% skill match · $110,240 (broader BLS group)
Management of Financial Resources · Operations Monitoring · Persuasion
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (83% skill match, median $48,570), Chemical Technicians (80% skill match, median $60,390) and Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (77% skill match, median $110,240), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than non-destructive testing specialists at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
21 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.