Non-Destructive Testing

What the Numbers Say About Non-Destructive Testing

As of the March 2025 reporting window, 927 people work in the Non-Destructive Testing occupation (OPM code 3705) across federal agencies, 0.0% of the 2,289,472-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved down by -1.2% from the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.

Non-Destructive Testing pays $78,561 per year on average, 28.5% below the $109,869 federal civilian average, after moving up 2.4% from the prior period (a broad shift as locality pay tables and grade-level adjustments moved through the workforce). Employees in this role stay an average of 8.6 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Metal Processing Family family (code 37) groups Non-Destructive Testing together with 7 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Non-Destructive Testing postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Metal Processing Family family (8 occupations, 4,013 employees combined), Non-Destructive Testing holds the #2 spot by headcount, a 23.1% share of the family total. Its average salary ranks in the top half (75th percentile) of pay among Metal Processing Family occupations.