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How to hire an ndt technician

Ndt technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring ndt technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an ndt technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new ndt technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an ndt technician, step by step

To hire an ndt technician, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an ndt technician:

Here's a step-by-step ndt technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an ndt technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ndt technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your ndt technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an ndt technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an ndt technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an ndt technician that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of ndt technicians.

    Type of NDT TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    NDT Technician$13-36
    Non-Destructive Testing TechnicianA Non-Destructive Technician is a technician who examines the physical properties of materials and components to detect corrosion, cracks, flaws, and any other imperfections that could result in unreliability about product performance, at times, even product failure. Their responsibilities include a regular inspection to determine if maintenance is necessary, testing materials used for the structures to ensure they are safe, and ensuring testing does not lead to further damage of the material or plan examined.$12-40
    TechnicianTechnicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more$11-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • PT
    • Non-Destructive
    • Destructive Testing
    • Aerospace
    • Test Results
    • Ladders
    • Liquid Penetrant
    • ASNT
    • Level III
    • Safety Regulations
    • Calipers
    • ET
    • Inspection Methods
    • Inspection Equipment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Perform adjustments to CIP equipment and run computer programs in order to automate the cleaning and sanitizing of the equipment.
    • Process FPI & MPI parts per customer requirements.
    • Perform inspections per ASME, AWS or customer specs.
    • Develop and maintain procedures and techniques in all NDE methods.
    • Service multiple customers in nuclear, aerospace, and petrochemical industries across the country.
    • Job responsibilities include setting up and testing equipment, conducting inspection pre ASNT codes.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your ndt technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An ndt technician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, ndt technicians' average salary in montana is 41% less than in virginia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level ndt technicians earn 63% less than senior-level ndt technicians.
    • Certifications. An ndt technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an ndt technician's salary.

    Average ndt technician salary

    $46,805yearly

    $22.50 hourly rate

    Entry-level ndt technician salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 20, 2025
  4. Writing an ndt technician job description

    A good ndt technician job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an ndt technician job description:

    Ndt technician job description example

    • At least 2 years of experience in a hands-on technical role in an industrial environment.

    • Established verbal and written communication skills.

    • Ability to handle the physical requirements of the position, to include:

    • operation of a power hoist and/or forklift (Training will be provided)

    • lifting up to fifty (50) pounds alone or heavier items with assistance

    • Sitting at the system control console to operate the x-ray system and review the x-ray images to disposition parts. During the work shift this duty and the load/unload duty will be alternated with a co-worker.

    • Lifting, bending, walking and maneuvering as required to load and unload parts

    • Capable of working within the rugged dusty industrial environment

    • Positive attitude and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced team environment.

    • Ability to accept change and adapt to new policies and procedures.

    • Legally authorized to work in the US and able to successfully pass a complete background check and drug test.

    Non-Essential Skills:

    • Associates Degree or Degree or Certification from an Accredited Technical Trade School

    • Certification as a Limited level II NDT Technician in Radiographic Testing – Digital Radioscopy by ASNT or under VJT’s SNT-TC-1A compliant written practice

    • Experience operating a forklift, power hoist, pallet jack, or other manual and powered material movement and lifting equipment.

    Physical Demands:

    • Regularly required to sit, walk and stand

    • Expected to effectively communicate in person, on phone, and via email and other electronic devices on a continual and repetitive basis.

    • Will need to repeatedly use hands to finger, handle, feel and operate standard office equipment, basic hand and power tools, and powered forklift

    • Must be physically able to

    • lift, move, reposition and carry material up to 50 lbs. alone or heavier with assistance

    • operate a power hoist, forklift, or other powered material movement mechanism

    • lift, bend, walk and maneuver as required to load and unload parts and set-up system equipment

    • Ability to meet travel requirements and to work in varied customer locations that are potentially dusty industrial environments

    • NDT Standards will require for the following visual acuity:

    Near Vision Options

    • Tumbling E in accordance with ISO 18490; 20/25 (Snellen) at 16" (40.64 cm) +/- 1" (2.54 cm); Jaeger No. 1 at not less than 12” (30.48 cm)

    Color Perception

    • Personnel shall be capable of adequately distinguishing and differentiating colors used in the process involved.


    Mental Demands:

    • On a regular basis, will be required to:

    o use written and oral communication skills

    o read and interpret data, information and documents

    o analyze and solve non-routine and complex office administrative problems

    o be creative, make judgements, use reasoning and make decisions

    o observe and interpret situations

    o Learn and apply new information or skills

    o perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks

    o work under intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions

    o interact with internal and external customers holding positions from a wide array of disciplines and organizational hierarchy levels

    • Must be able to fulfill essential job function in a consistent state of alertness and safe manner

    This position has been deemed a Safety Sensitive position.

    The responsibilities and skills noted within this job description are not all inclusive and are subject to change.


    EOE/VETS/AAP

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right ndt technician for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your ndt technician job on Zippia to find and recruit ndt technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit ndt technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new ndt technician

    Once you've found the ndt technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new ndt technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an ndt technician?

Hiring an ndt technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting ndt technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of ndt technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $46,805 per year for an ndt technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for ndt technicians in the US typically range between $13 and $36 an hour.

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