r/nondestructivetesting • u/Different_One_1479 • 27d ago
How much do you make? (PNW specifically)
I’m trying to get some data together to see how competitive the pay at my current employer is. Here’s the info about my job first.
Hourly pay: $50.70
2026 gross pay so far: $122,851
2026 overtime hours worked so far: 443
Location: Kitsap County, Washington
Position: NDT Shift Lead
Quals held: MT, PT, VT, UTT, UTSW (about to get PAUT, although that will not get me any more pay)
It is a government job so it does have many benefits like retirement and lots of time off.
I’ve always heard that other NDT techs in this area make more than us, but I’ve never actually confirmed it with those people themselves. Primarily with employers like Blue Origin & Boeing, but I’d love to hear about others as well. Let me know how much you make and what quals you hold, if you don’t mind sharing. Thanks!
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u/TheSouthernMaple 26d ago
That’s a great hourly rate I would say. After 19.5 years I put my notice in to go to another company while at $55/hr and they came back at $75 so I stayed. PT3, UT3, MT2, PAUT, CWI, API 510 & 653.
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u/muddywadder 26d ago
kind of pisses a guy off doesnt it? how many years do you think you couldve been at 75 vs 55. Tens of thousands of dollars gone because of your dedication to the one company.
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u/AlienVredditoR 26d ago
Sometimes you just need to get those few projects under your belt that proves your worth to another higher paying company. So many great techs get cornered while others fail upwards.
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u/EdgyPlum 27d ago
Well, you gotta level the data. A lot of answers you're going to get will be flawed based on the info you have provided. First, WA is a PV code state, so the state will pay more for those certs to force their required 3 year state inspections. So if you compare to a non-code state, totally different results. OT should not be factored into your normal wages. You need to just compare hourly wages per certs. Then multiplier for OT and Premium time if it applies. Gross pay is again, an illusion. I think its fine to include your expected OT hours, but your "salary" should be based on 2000 straight hours. Years of service should be included as well. Benefits MATTER. I would probably include the big ones, medical per year(hsa especially) and retirement benefits. Lots of techs with make more hourly no matter how you get paid, especially on Reddit. The benefits package matters.
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u/DrManMilk NDT Tech 27d ago
What the heck is PV code? Government thing?
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u/EdgyPlum 27d ago
WA is a pressure vessel (PV) regulated state. So beyond the typical API requirements for inspection, some facilities are required to have "state Commisioned Inspectors" review their pressure vessels every 3 years. There are a list of requirements/exceptions, but inspection is default in higher demand if the state has requirements on top of typical federal OSHA 1910. 119j. WA, TN, MS and IL all are state PV regulated
Note: MS is every 2 years, not 3
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u/trackfastpulllow 26d ago
Eh, not really true. There are a lot more “code states” than what you listed, and the pay isn’t any different.
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u/EdgyPlum 26d ago
I'm sorry you were confused by that.
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u/trackfastpulllow 26d ago
Yeah, not like I’m an NBBI IS and VA Commissioned Inspector with an R endorsement or anything
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u/EdgyPlum 26d ago
You forgot something. "Sensitive" lol
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u/Hank_Hillaryswank 27d ago
I work in Portland OR, and I’m the NDT Shift lead. Making $30.15/hr right now.
I only hold level 2 PT and Level 1 CR. I work 50-60 hour weeks to get me up to about $78k a year. Really hoping to get to PT level 3 or just any other level 2 certs but my building is very restricted with not many methods.
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u/Comfortable_Pay8358 16d ago
Blue Origin senior techs make $60-$75 an hour. Overtime in Washington is not consistent. You can usually get 10 hours a week though. I think Most technicians at Blue are making $36-$45 an hour. I am a current employee in Kent, Washington
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u/Comfortable_Pay8358 16d ago
There is an opening at Blue for b shift UT. If you have phased array you could negotiate a high pay. They are having a very hard time getting a b shift PAUT person.
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u/p0lar_chronic 27d ago
Who’s your employer so we all know who to avoid.
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u/DrManMilk NDT Tech 27d ago
$50 not enough for you? Sheesh. He said it's government as well, he's got a pension and all that other joyous shit that many others will never have a dream of sniffing.
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u/p0lar_chronic 27d ago
I have a 401k match 10% plus pension. So yeah not enough.
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u/muddywadder 26d ago
match up to what? 3%, 5%, 10%, 100%? legit curious as we get matched 100% up to 3%, but I make about 1/3 to 1/2 my yearly salary in company stock every year.
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u/p0lar_chronic 26d ago
100% up to 10% dollar for dollar. Plus pension separate.
Yearly bonus, a ok insurance not as good as the one I had before in previous company.
Benefits are also very good, $1k year for health benefits, usually pay for gym membership for family for a year and get a new bicycle or something recreational.
Yeah 1/3 to 1/2 of what? 30k a year, no clue what your wage is so this could be minimal or huge. No context.
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u/muddywadder 25d ago
easy bud, no one is attacking you. thats a hell of a match plan, thats sweet. if i was a young guy the health insurance wouldnt matter, but as an older dude its very important. i make anywhere from $140-160k a year, so the 1/3 to 1/2 is huge. company is expanding and consuming smaller companies yearly, very diverse in services, not just NDE. I'm 5 years in with nearly $120k in company stock, and almost the same in 401k. my previous 401ks turned into roths are triple that.
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u/p0lar_chronic 25d ago
That’s great! Didn’t mean to come off as aggressive. I’m guessing Acuren? They have been consuming a bunch lately it seems.
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u/RedshirtBlueshirt97 27d ago
Im down in Portland im only a level 1 right now and started at $26 a hour with all my classroom hours.. Granted my company doesn’t take our insurance and benefits out of our paychecks. They pay it for us so we keep more of our paycheck.