Jobs Similar to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to non-destructive testing specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Nuclear Technicians.
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists: $78,350 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Non-Destructive Testing Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 81% | $74,510 | Training or associate |
| 2 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $59,920 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Nuclear Technicians | 78% | $110,240 | Training or associate |
| 4 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 78% | $82,890 | Training or associate |
| 5 | Chemical Technicians | 78% | $60,390 | Training or associate |
| 6 | Aviation Inspectors | 78% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Gas Plant Operators | 76% | $87,820 | High school |
| 8 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 76% | $48,570 | High school |
| 9 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 75% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 11 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 75% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 75% | $112,230 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Automotive Engineering TechniciansSame group | 74% | $74,510Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Chemists | 74% | $91,240 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 74% | $53,350 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Geodetic Surveyors | 74% | $75,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | 74% | $62,470Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 18 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 73% | $53,750 | High school |
| 19 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 73% | $58,040 | High school |
| 20 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 73% | $60,020 | High school |
- 1Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
81% similar · $74,510 · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $59,920 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Nuclear Technicians
78% similar · $110,240 · Training or associate
- 4Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $82,890 · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Chemical Technicians
78% similar · $60,390 · Training or associate
- 6Aviation Inspectors
78% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 7Gas Plant Operators
76% similar · $87,820 · High school
- 8Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
76% similar · $48,570 · High school
- 9Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Biomass Plant Technicians
75% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 11Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
75% similar · $112,230 · Bachelor's degree
- 13Automotive Engineering Technicians
74% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Chemists
74% similar · $91,240 · Bachelor's degree
- 15Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
74% similar · $53,350 · Bachelor's degree
- 16Geodetic Surveyors
74% similar · $75,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Biofuels Processing Technicians
74% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 18Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
73% similar · $53,750 · High school
- 19Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
73% similar · $58,040 · High school
- 20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
73% similar · $60,020 · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for non-destructive testing specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where non-destructive testing specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Gas Plant Operators (76)
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (76)
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (76)
- Aviation Inspectors (75)
- Chemical Technicians (75)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (73)
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters (73)
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (73)
- Chemical Plant and System Operators (72)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (71)
Questions about jobs like non-destructive testing specialists
What jobs are most similar to non-destructive testing specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (81% similar), Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Nuclear Technicians (78% similar), Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (78% similar) and Chemical Technicians (78% similar).
Do jobs like non-destructive testing specialists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than non-destructive testing specialists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.