# Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

> Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

- **SOC code:** 17-3029.01
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3029-01
- **Also known as:** NDE Technician (Non-Destructive Evaluation Technician), NDT Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Specialist), NDT Technical Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Technical Specialist), NDT Technician (Non-Destructive Testing Technician), Industrial Radiographer, NDT Coordinator (Non-Destructive Testing Coordinator), NDT Inspector (Non-Destructing Testing Inspector), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
- Interpret the results of all methods of non-destructive testing (NDT), such as acoustic emission, electromagnetic, leak, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, neutron radiographic, radiographic, thermal or infrared, ultrasonic, vibration analysis, and visual testing.
- Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
- Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
- Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
- Visually examine materials, structures, or components for signs of corrosion, metal fatigue, cracks, or other flaws, using tools and equipment such as endoscopes, closed-circuit television systems, and fiber optics.
- Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
- Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
- Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
- Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
- Evaluate material properties, using radio astronomy, voltage and amperage measurement, or rheometric flow measurement.

**Emerging tasks** (O*NET):
- Operate drones for remote inspection of large or hard-to-reach structures, such as wind turbines, bridges, or tall buildings.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Quality Control Analysis _(transferable_skill)_
- Physics _(knowledge)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Word _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Excel _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Access _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Outlook _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Project _(hot technology)_
- SAP software _(hot technology)_
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Fractal Concept SoftScan
- GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies Rhythm UT

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 56th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 53rd percentile (Moderate) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 48th percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 69th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 36th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 1.5% growth (About average); 5.7k annual openings; 67.3k → 68.3k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $77,390; 64,410 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 39% automation, 21% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 3.5 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Document non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, processes, or results. _(0.4% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing (NDT) results. _(0.4% of measured AI use; task iteration)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me document non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, processes, or results.
- Help me prepare reports on non-destructive testing (NDT) results.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3029-01_