NDT Jobs & Salaries in Long Beach, CA
The NDT job market in Long Beach is shaped directly by its industrial base — Refining (Carson/Wilmington), Container port, Aerospace (Virgin Orbit legacy / Relativity). Major employers and asset owners in the area include Marathon Los Angeles Refinery (Carson), Phillips 66 Los Angeles (Carson/Wilmington), Port of Long Beach, all of which run continuous inspection programs and rotate inspection contractors against multi-year MSAs. Code authorities most often cited in local procurement specifications are API 510 / 570 / 653, USCG, AS9100, so any inspector hunting work in Long Beach should expect those references in interviews and pre-qualification packages. Wages track close to the national median for inspectors, with overtime making up the variable component. A recurring local theme: "Marathon Carson and the closing P66 facility share crude lines and a Level III bench — every weld package gets re-routed weekly as P66 winds down, and stale certs surface fast." Beyond the top-of-mind names, the deeper bench in Long Beach includes Port of Long Beach — these are the employers that pre-qualification managers screen most often when filling rotational openings. BLS-anchored Level II wages in Long Beach run around $86,000/yr; Level III with API endorsements layers on to roughly $132,000/yr — the gap between the two is the single biggest reason local inspectors pursue Level III. Jurisdictional layer matters here: CARB Air Permits and Cal/OSHA Title 8 apply on top of the federal/national codes, and missing the local-authority reference on a procedure submission is a common rejection reason for first-time-into-Long Beach contractors. One angle that differentiates Long Beach from peer markets: Tightest US air emission controls (CARB + SCAQMD). Turnaround calendar: Spring/Fall TARs — the inspection workforce flexes hard against this rhythm and overtime stacks during those windows.
Local industries
Top local employers / asset owners
- • Marathon Los Angeles Refinery (Carson) (Refinery)
- • Phillips 66 Los Angeles (Carson/Wilmington) (Refinery (closing 2025))
- • Port of Long Beach (Container port)
- • Relativity Space Long Beach (Rocket manufacturing)
Methods most-used locally
UT thickness; PAUT for high-temperature piping; RT on weld repairs; MT/PT on critical welds; UT for cranes and bollards; MT; PT; coating thickness.
| Role | Pay (USD) |
|---|---|
NDT Trainee / Helper 0-1 yrs • No certification yet; pursuing ASNT Level I | $38K–$50K |
ASNT Level I Technician 1-2 yrs • ASNT NDT Level I in one or more methods | $48K–$65K |
ASNT Level II UT/RT/MT/PT Inspector 3-6 yrs • ASNT NDT Level II in primary method(s) | $60K–$92K |
PAUT/TOFD Technician 4-8 yrs • ASNT Level II UT plus PAUT and/or TOFD endorsement | $78K–$115K |
API 510 / 570 / 653 Inspector 5+ yrs • API 510, 570, or 653 individual certifications | $88K–$135K |
ASNT Level III / NDE Engineer 8-15 yrs • ASNT NDT Level III in multiple methods | $110K–$175K |
Certifications worth holding for the Long Beach market
- ASNT NDT Level II in your primary method (UT or RT is the most marketable starting point)
- API 510 (pressure vessel) — turnaround season is gated by the count of API 510 inspectors a contractor can field
- API 570 (in-service piping) — table-stakes for any piping-circuit inspection work
- API 653 (above-ground storage tank) — required for tank shell, floor, and roof inspection scopes
- NAS 410 — mandatory for aerospace prime-contractor inspection work
- AWS CWI plus ABS / DNV / LR class-society approvals
Application checklist
- Photo of your current ASNT (or ISO 9712 / NAS 410) certification card and the underlying written practice that issued it.
- Proof of relevant API certifications (510 / 570 / 653) if you are applying to Long Beach refining, petrochemical, or pipeline work.
- Documented vision examination (current within 12 months) and physical / colour-perception test as required by your written practice.
- A method-by-method experience log totalling the hours required by your level (e.g. 1,600 h for Level II UT under SNT-TC-1A).
- OSHA 10 (or 30) construction safety card; many petrochemical sites also require TWIC, BROWZ, ISN, or Avetta enrollment.
- Procedure-writing samples if applying for Level III or NDE engineer roles — at minimum a UT or RT procedure you authored.
- A signed reference from a Level III or supervising inspector who can vouch for your hands-on experience hours.
Frequently asked
What's the entry-level NDT salary in Long Beach?
Entry-level NDT trainees in Long Beach start around $43K-$62K (BLS-anchored regional band). Once ASNT Level I certifications come in (typically 6-12 months), base pay steps to ~$62K-$86K, with turnaround overtime layering on top.
Which NDT certifications are most in-demand in Long Beach?
ASNT NDT Level II in your primary method (UT or RT is the most marketable starting point); API 510 (pressure vessel) — turnaround season is gated by the count of API 510 inspectors a contractor can field; API 570 (in-service piping) — table-stakes for any piping-circuit inspection work — these are the certifications that show up most often in local procurement and pre-qualification packages. Note also CARB Air Permits and Cal/OSHA Title 8 — local code references that procurement managers expect inspectors to be familiar with.
Are remote / travel NDT roles available out of Long Beach?
Yes. Most Long Beach-based inspection contractors run a mix of local turnaround work and travel-rotation positions to other regions; a willingness to mobilise is one of the fastest ways to break into the industry from a Level I background.
Who are the largest NDT employers in Long Beach?
The biggest single employer of NDT inspectors in Long Beach is Phillips 66 Carson Refinery; the broader top-five typically also includes Marathon Carson Refinery (former Tesoro), ExxonMobil Torrance, Port of Long Beach. Pre-qualification with the top three names unlocks the bulk of the local volume.
What makes the Long Beach NDT market different from neighbouring cities?
Tightest US air emission controls (CARB + SCAQMD) Combined with: california cal/osha title 8 stricter than federal osha. These local specialties shape the kinds of credentials that get hired here vs. neighbouring metros.
When does NDT hiring spike in Long Beach?
Hiring follows the local turnaround calendar: Spring/Fall TARs. Recruitment for these surge periods typically opens 60-90 days ahead, so positioning your resume by January for a spring TAR or July for an autumn TAR is the most effective approach.
NDT Training in Long Beach
Local courses, fees, and accreditation pathways feeding the same employer base.
NDT Services in Long Beach
The companies hiring inspectors — see the local service catalogue.
Explore Careers in Other Cities
Verified Long Beach, CA Inspection-Market Data
Hard numbers from BLS, EIA, AAPA, Census & API directories — anchoring this page to Long Beach, CA's actual NDT market, not a generic template.
- Local Wage Anchor — Level II NDT Technician
- $86K/yr typical for Long Beach, CA
- Metro Industrial Base
- 460K people in Long Beach, CA
- Sector Mix (NDT Demand Drivers)
- Refining + Port (50%)
- Refinery Inventory
- 1+ refineries — Phillips 66 Carson
- Port / Marine Workload
- Port of Long Beach
- Active API-Certified Inspectors (regional)
- ~50 API 510 · ~60 API 570 · ~30 API 653
- ASNT Chapter / Community
- Regional ASNT chapter
- Cost-of-Living Impact on Rate Cards
- COL index 130.0 (30.0 pts above national avg) · transport surcharge band: medium
Source: BLS OES CA state 2024
Source: US Census ACS 2023
Source: BEA Regional Accounts 2023
Source: EIA Refinery Capacity Report Jan 2025
Source: AAPA US Port Rankings 2023
Source: API ICP roster + state directories (est.)
Source: ASNT chapter directory
Source: C2ER ACCRA COL Index 2024
Continue Reading — In-Depth Guides
Authored by ASNT Level III inspectors. Real procedures, real numbers, real codes.
- Ultrasonic Testing — Complete GuidePhysics, calibration, codes, equipment, applications.
- Radiographic Testing — Complete GuideSources, exposure, IQIs, ASME V, digital RT.
- Magnetic Particle Testing — Complete GuideAC/DC field, wet/dry methods, ASTM E709, yoke.
- Penetrant Testing — Complete GuideVisible vs fluorescent, ASTM E165, dwell times.
- Phased Array UT (PAUT) — Complete GuideBeam steering, focal laws, scan plans, ISO 13588.
Start Your NDT Career in Long Beach
Get certified, gain documented experience, and connect with the local employers above.