NDT Jobs & Salaries in Seattle, WA
The NDT job market in Seattle is shaped directly by its industrial base — Aerospace (Boeing), Shipbuilding, Maritime. Major employers and asset owners in the area include Boeing Renton (737), Boeing Everett (777, 767, 747), Vigor Industrial Shipyard, 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 FAA Part 145, NAS 410, ABS, so any inspector hunting work in Seattle 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: "Boeing's NAS 410 compliance requires up-to-date Level II/III certification visibility for every contractor inspector on every shift — a gap shuts the work centre down." Beyond the top-of-mind names, the deeper bench in Seattle includes Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Vigor Industrial Shipyards, Foss Maritime — these are the employers that pre-qualification managers screen most often when filling rotational openings. BLS-anchored Level II wages in Seattle run around $92,000/yr; Level III with API endorsements layers on to roughly $138,000/yr — the gap between the two is the single biggest reason local inspectors pursue Level III. Jurisdictional layer matters here: WA L&I Boiler & PV Ch. 296-104 and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 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-Seattle contractors. One angle that differentiates Seattle from peer markets: Boeing Everett — world's largest building by volume; 777X composite wing requires unique large-format UT/PAUT scanning. Travel and per-diem load on contractor day-rates is high in Seattle (FIFO/remote-work pattern); this shows up in posted rates and is non-negotiable on most contractor tenders. Turnaround calendar: Spring TAR (refineries); Aerospace continuous; PNSY continuous (10+ year carrier overhaul cycles) — the inspection workforce flexes hard against this rhythm and overtime stacks during those windows.
Local industries
Top local employers / asset owners
- • Boeing Renton (737) (Aerospace)
- • Boeing Everett (777, 767, 747) (Aerospace)
- • Vigor Industrial Shipyard (Shipbuilding)
Methods most-used locally
FPI to NAS 410; eddy-current array; phased-array UT on composites; X-ray and CT; UT thickness; MT; PT; class-society RT.
| 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 Seattle 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
- AWS CWI plus ABS / DNV / LR class-society approvals
- 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 Seattle 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 Seattle?
Entry-level NDT trainees in Seattle start around $48K-$68K (BLS-anchored regional band). Once ASNT Level I certifications come in (typically 6-12 months), base pay steps to ~$68K-$92K, with turnaround overtime layering on top.
Which NDT certifications are most in-demand in Seattle?
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; AWS CWI plus ABS / DNV / LR class-society approvals — these are the certifications that show up most often in local procurement and pre-qualification packages. Note also WA L&I Boiler & PV Ch. 296-104 and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency — local code references that procurement managers expect inspectors to be familiar with.
Are remote / travel NDT roles available out of Seattle?
Seattle 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 Seattle?
The biggest single employer of NDT inspectors in Seattle is Boeing Renton (737); the broader top-five typically also includes Boeing Everett (777, 767, KC-46), Naval Base Kitsap (Bremerton), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Vigor Industrial Shipyards. Pre-qualification with the top three names unlocks the bulk of the local volume.
What makes the Seattle NDT market different from neighbouring cities?
Boeing Everett — world's largest building by volume; 777X composite wing requires unique large-format UT/PAUT scanning Combined with: puget sound nsy — only us west-coast nuclear aircraft carrier rcoh (refueling complex overhaul) facility; asme xi isi nuclear cleared work. These local specialties shape the kinds of credentials that get hired here vs. neighbouring metros.
When does NDT hiring spike in Seattle?
Hiring follows the local turnaround calendar: Spring TAR (refineries); Aerospace continuous; PNSY continuous (10+ year carrier overhaul cycles). 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 Seattle
Local courses, fees, and accreditation pathways feeding the same employer base.
NDT Services in Seattle
The companies hiring inspectors — see the local service catalogue.
Explore Careers in Other Cities
Verified Seattle, WA Inspection-Market Data
Hard numbers from BLS, EIA, AAPA, Census & API directories — anchoring this page to Seattle, WA's actual NDT market, not a generic template.
- Local Wage Anchor — Level II NDT Technician
- $92K/yr typical for Seattle, WA
- Metro Industrial Base
- 4.0M people in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA
- Sector Mix (NDT Demand Drivers)
- Aerospace (32%) · Maritime / Shipyards (15%) · Naval (PNSY) (12%)
- Refinery Inventory
- 2+ refineries · ~269K bpd combined capacity — Marathon Anacortes Refinery (regional), HF Sinclair Anacortes Refinery
- Port / Marine Workload
- Port of Seattle + Tacoma (NW Seaport Alliance) (Container #4 US)
- Active API-Certified Inspectors (regional)
- ~180 API 510 · ~220 API 570 · ~140 API 653
- ASNT Chapter / Community
- Puget Sound ASNT Section
- Cost-of-Living Impact on Rate Cards
- COL index 158.5 (58.5 pts above national avg) · transport surcharge band: high
Source: BLS OES May 2024 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA
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 Seattle
Get certified, gain documented experience, and connect with the local employers above.