NDT Level II jobs and where the career goes next

Where Level II technicians work

Level II work shows up wherever a failed part would be expensive or dangerous. Three settings cover most postings:

• Aerospace and manufacturing shops. Technicians inspect parts and assemblies, often with penetrant, magnetic particle and ultrasonic methods. A posting we reviewed from Element, an aerospace inspection company in Enfield, Connecticut, describes penetrant and magnetic particle work.
• Pressure equipment and plants. ASNT's Specific exams are organized around general industry and pressure equipment sectors, so plant and vessel work is a named part of the field.
• Field and service work. Service companies send technicians to customer sites, so travel and shift changes are common.

Your method shapes the setting. UT technicians measure thickness and find flaws in welds and forgings. MT and PT technicians find surface-breaking discontinuities, often in a shop. The best choice is the one your employer or target employer uses every day.

What postings ask for

Read ten postings and a pattern appears. Employers name:

• The method or methods, such as UT, MT or PT, sometimes with a sector.
• The certification route. Some want an ASNT credential, others certification under their own written practice. Our route comparison explains the difference, so you can read a posting correctly.
• Experience in the method, because Level II rests on documented work.
• Schedule and travel, including shifts, overtime and time on the road.

Match your evidence to the language. If a posting wants Level II and you are working toward it, note in your application which exam you have booked. The requirements guide lists what ASNT publishes by method, so you know when you can apply.

A typical progression

Most careers follow the same arc.

1. Level I. You perform tests under direction, following written instructions.
2. Level II. You set up, calibrate, perform, interpret and report to a procedure. This is the level most postings ask for.
3. More methods. Adding a second or third method widens the postings you qualify for. Each method needs its own training, experience and exams.
4. Level III. Level III is the senior tier. Check your employer's written practice or ASNT's program pages for the requirements that apply to you.

Pick the next step by looking at what your target employer lists, then work backward to the exams you need. If you are choosing a first or second method, which NDT method to certify in first compares the routes.

Pay, and what it depends on

Pay varies with method, location, shift, overtime and employer. Our pay guide lays out the numbers and where they come from, including BLS data and posted ranges. For context, BLS reports a May 2025 hourly median of $37.67 for the broader occupation that covers NDT specialists (SOC 17-3029), and that figure is not specific to Level II. The Level II postings in the guide show hourly ranges, set by experience and shift. Use those sources, and compare offers line by line.

Is the cost of certifying worth it?

Compare what you pay with what a new method could earn you. ASNT lists the initial General and Specific exams at $740 for members and $820 for nonmembers per method. Employers sometimes cover exam fees, so ask before you pay. The exam day guide covers retake rules, and our verification guide shows how others check your credential once you hold it.

The real cost of a weak attempt is a retake fee and weeks of delay. The free 10-question check is a no-cost way to see how close you are, and it shows exactly which areas to study first. Take the free UT check before you commit to a test date. Once you have a date, the UT study plan or the MT and PT plan turns it into a weekly schedule.

Your first move

If you are working toward Level II, the first move is to read the outline for your method and take the check. If you already hold Level II, list the methods your target employers ask for and choose the next one to add. Either way, a clear plan turns a posting from a wish into a target.

Build a short list of target employers

Turn the career into a simple worksheet. List five employers you would like to work for, then note the methods in their postings, the certification route they name and the sector. Patterns show up fast: one employer wants UT and penetrant together, another wants MT only. That list tells you which exam to take first, and which second.

Add a column for what you lack. If three of five postings want UT and you hold none, the gap is clear, and so is your study plan. If you already hold a method, the gap may be a second method or a sector, which is a cheaper step than starting over.

FAQ

What jobs can I get with Level II?

Titles vary, such as NDT technician, UT technician, NDE inspector or Level II inspector. The work depends on your method and the employer's sector, from aerospace parts to pressure equipment and field service. Read postings for your method to see the exact titles.

Is NDT a good career?

It rewards people who like hands-on, detail-heavy work and who enjoy learning methods. Each method you add increases your options, and Level II is where postings open up. Read our pay guide and weigh it against the shifts and travel in postings you like.

Which method is most in demand?

Postings we reviewed mention UT, PT and MT work, so no single method stands out in our sample. The practical answer is to look at what employers near you list. Pick the method your target employer uses, and check how it fits your route before you book.

What comes after Level II?

Common next steps are adding another method or moving toward Level III. Check ASNT's program pages and your employer's written practice for the requirements that apply to you. Start by listing the methods your target employers use, then work backward to the exams you need.