NDT Jobs & Salaries in Montreal, QC

The NDT job market in Montreal is shaped directly by its industrial base — Aerospace (Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada), Refining, Port and rail logistics. Major employers and asset owners in the area include Bombardier Aerospace Mirabel / Dorval, Pratt & Whitney Canada Longueuil, Suncor Montreal Refinery, 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 Transport Canada CAR 573, NAS 410, AS9100, so any inspector hunting work in Montreal 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: "Greater-Montreal aerospace primes audit Level II/III rosters under both Transport Canada CAR 573 and NAS 410 — keeping a single technician's cert path clean across both regimes is a daily reconciliation problem." Beyond the top-of-mind names, the deeper bench in Montreal includes CAE, Suncor Montreal Refinery, Valero Saint-Romuald — these are the employers that pre-qualification managers screen most often when filling rotational openings. BLS-anchored Level II wages in Montreal run around $70,000/yr; Level III with API endorsements layers on to roughly $110,000/yr — the gap between the two is the single biggest reason local inspectors pursue Level III. Jurisdictional layer matters here: CSA B51 and Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) 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-Montreal contractors. One angle that differentiates Montreal from peer markets: Aerospace MRO + manufacturing concentration — Nadcap NDT is dominant credential. Turnaround calendar: Spring/Fall TARs; Avoid winter for outdoor work — the inspection workforce flexes hard against this rhythm and overtime stacks during those windows.

Industry mix driving demand

Local industries

Aerospace (Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada)

Refining

Port and rail logistics

Top local employers / asset owners

• Bombardier Aerospace Mirabel / Dorval (Business jet manufacturing)
• Pratt & Whitney Canada Longueuil (Aero engine manufacturing)
• Suncor Montreal Refinery (Refinery)
• CAE Montreal (Simulators / aerospace)

Methods most-used locally

FPI to NAS 410; eddy-current array; phased-array UT on composites; X-ray and CT; UT thickness; PAUT for high-temperature piping; RT on weld repairs; MT/PT on critical welds.

Salary bands in Montreal

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 Montreal market

ASNT NDT Level II in your primary method (UT or RT is the most marketable starting point)
NAS 410 — mandatory for aerospace prime-contractor inspection work
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
AAR M-1003 quality program awareness for rail-NDE contractors

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 Montreal 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 Montreal?

Entry-level NDT trainees in Montreal start around $35K-$50K (BLS-anchored regional band). Once ASNT Level I certifications come in (typically 6-12 months), base pay steps to ~$50K-$70K, with turnaround overtime layering on top.

Which NDT certifications are most in-demand in Montreal?

ASNT NDT Level II in your primary method (UT or RT is the most marketable starting point); NAS 410 — mandatory for aerospace prime-contractor inspection work; API 510 (pressure vessel) — turnaround season is gated by the count of API 510 inspectors a contractor can field — these are the certifications that show up most often in local procurement and pre-qualification packages. Note also CSA B51 and Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) — local code references that procurement managers expect inspectors to be familiar with.

Are remote / travel NDT roles available out of Montreal?

Yes. Most Montreal-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 Montreal?

The biggest single employer of NDT inspectors in Montreal is Bombardier Aviation Montreal; the broader top-five typically also includes Pratt & Whitney Canada (Longueuil), Bell Helicopter Mirabel, CAE, Suncor Montreal Refinery. Pre-qualification with the top three names unlocks the bulk of the local volume.

What makes the Montreal NDT market different from neighbouring cities?

Aerospace MRO + manufacturing concentration — Nadcap NDT is dominant credential Combined with: rbq certification specific to quebec — separate from federal csa. These local specialties shape the kinds of credentials that get hired here vs. neighbouring metros.

When does NDT hiring spike in Montreal?

Hiring follows the local turnaround calendar: Spring/Fall TARs; Avoid winter for outdoor work. 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 Montreal

Local courses, fees, and accreditation pathways feeding the same employer base.

NDT Services in Montreal

The companies hiring inspectors — see the local service catalogue.

Explore Careers in Other Cities

Verified Montréal, QC Inspection-Market Data

Hard numbers from BLS, EIA, AAPA, Census & API directories — anchoring this page to Montréal, QC's actual NDT market, not a generic template.

Local Wage Anchor — Level II NDT Technician: $70K/yr typical for Montréal, QC
Metro Industrial Base: 4.3M people in Montréal, QC
Sector Mix (NDT Demand Drivers): Aerospace (35%) · Refining & Petrochem (20%) · Aluminum (15%)
Refinery Inventory: 2+ refineries — Suncor Montreal Refinery, Valero Saint-Romuald (Lévis)
Active API-Certified Inspectors (regional): ~200 API 510 · ~240 API 570 · ~120 API 653
ASNT Chapter / Community: CINDE — Quebec Section
Cost-of-Living Impact on Rate Cards: COL index 82.0 (18.0 pts below national avg) · transport surcharge band: low

Continue Reading — In-Depth Guides

Authored by ASNT Level III inspectors. Real procedures, real numbers, real codes.

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