NDT Jobs & Salaries in Los Angeles, CA
The NDT job market in Los Angeles is shaped directly by its industrial base — Refining, Ports, Aerospace. Major employers and asset owners in the area include Marathon Los Angeles Refinery, Phillips 66 Wilmington, Port of Los Angeles, 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, FAA Part 145, USCG, so any inspector hunting work in Los Angeles 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: "South Bay aerospace primes audit subcontractor NDT files quarterly — a missing NAS 410 cert renewal disqualifies a vendor from the prime list for 12 months." Beyond the top-of-mind names, the deeper bench in Los Angeles includes Valero Wilmington, PBF Torrance, SpaceX Hawthorne — these are the employers that pre-qualification managers screen most often when filling rotational openings. BLS-anchored Level II wages in Los Angeles run around $96,000/yr; Level III with API endorsements layers on to roughly $142,000/yr — the gap between the two is the single biggest reason local inspectors pursue Level III. Jurisdictional layer matters here: CARB and SCAQMD Rule 1147 (NOx) 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-Los Angeles contractors. One angle that differentiates Los Angeles from peer markets: California-only CARB Phase III compliance + AQMD Rule 1147 — refinery emissions audits unique to LA. Travel and per-diem load on contractor day-rates is high in Los Angeles (FIFO/remote-work pattern); this shows up in posted rates and is non-negotiable on most contractor tenders. Turnaround calendar: Spring TAR (Feb-Apr); Fall TAR (Sep-Nov) — 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 (Refinery)
- • Phillips 66 Wilmington (Refinery)
- • Port of Los Angeles (Port)
- • Northrop Grumman El Segundo (Aerospace)
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 Los Angeles 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
- ASNT Level III in your primary method (the credential that unlocks procedure approval and inspector certification)
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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
Entry-level NDT trainees in Los Angeles start around $50K-$72K (BLS-anchored regional band). Once ASNT Level I certifications come in (typically 6-12 months), base pay steps to ~$72K-$96K, with turnaround overtime layering on top.
Which NDT certifications are most in-demand in Los Angeles?
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 and SCAQMD Rule 1147 (NOx) — local code references that procurement managers expect inspectors to be familiar with.
Are remote / travel NDT roles available out of Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is FIFO-heavy — most local NDT work involves rotation to remote sites with a per-diem premium. Travel-rotation positions dominate the local market, and willingness to mobilise is the standard expectation rather than the exception.
Who are the largest NDT employers in Los Angeles?
The biggest single employer of NDT inspectors in Los Angeles is Marathon Los Angeles Refinery (Carson+Wilmington); the broader top-five typically also includes Phillips 66 LA (Wilmington+Carson), Chevron El Segundo Refinery, Valero Wilmington, PBF Torrance. Pre-qualification with the top three names unlocks the bulk of the local volume.
What makes the Los Angeles NDT market different from neighbouring cities?
California-only CARB Phase III compliance + AQMD Rule 1147 — refinery emissions audits unique to LA Combined with: spacex/boeing satellite manufacturing — composite + weld ndt to nasa-std-5009 / as9100. These local specialties shape the kinds of credentials that get hired here vs. neighbouring metros.
When does NDT hiring spike in Los Angeles?
Hiring follows the local turnaround calendar: Spring TAR (Feb-Apr); Fall TAR (Sep-Nov). 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 Los Angeles
Local courses, fees, and accreditation pathways feeding the same employer base.
NDT Services in Los Angeles
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