NDT Inspection Price List 2026: Costs by Method (UT, MT, PT, RT, PAUT)

A $150-an-hour ultrasonic inspection becomes a $400-an-hour inspection at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. Same technician, same flaw detector, same weld. The difference is the callout minimum and the overtime multiplier, and neither one shows up on the rate sheet you were emailed.

That is why an NDT price list is only useful if it shows the unit you will actually be billed in. Ultrasonic and radiographic work is often quoted per weld. Magnetic particle and penetrant work is usually billed by the hour. Turnarounds go to day rates. Then mobilization, per diem, consumables and Level III review sit on top. The tables below put all of it in one place, using the same figures as our downloadable NDT Inspection Rate Guide 2026 (PDF).

The Short Version:

For third-party NDT in the continental US, expect a Level II technician to bill $65–$120/hr for visual testing (VT), $75–$140/hr for magnetic particle (MT) or liquid penetrant (PT), $85–$175/hr for ultrasonic (UT), $95–$200/hr for film radiography (RT), and $125–$300/hr for phased array (PAUT) and time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD). A 10-hour Level II day runs $850–$2,000. Level III review is $150–$400/hr. Budget 25–40% above the base rate for mobilization, per diem and other add-ons.

NDT Price List by Method (2026)

These are base rates for one Level II technician from a third-party NDT inspection firm. Per-weld prices move with pipe diameter and wall thickness. Per-test-area prices depend on how large an “area” is in the quote, so pin that definition down before comparing bids.

Per-foot pricing for UT corrosion mapping, long-seam welds and ET is set project by project. Ask the bidder to show the hourly or daily basis behind a per-foot number so you can line it up against hourly quotes.

The line items that sit on top of the method rate

Need the printable version with a budget worksheet? Download the NDT Inspection Rate Guide 2026 (PDF).

Reality Check:

Radiographic testing typically costs 2–3x more than ultrasonic testing for the same weld once you count consumables, the radiation exclusion zone and processing time. But RT is still code-required for many applications. Confirm which code governs the job before you assume the cheaper UT bid is acceptable.

What Drives the Price Up or Down

The method sets the base rate. Four other things decide where in the range your quote lands.

Industry and governing code. Structural steel under AWS D1.1 and shop fabrication work generally price at base rate. Refining turnarounds run 10–30% over base because of schedule pressure, confined space and hot permits. Transmission pipeline work under DOT/PHMSA oversight runs 10–25% over. Aerospace runs 25–50% over, and nuclear power 30–60%.

Region. Level II hourly rates run roughly $80–$145/hr in the Midwest and Southeast, $85–$150/hr on the Gulf Coast, $100–$185/hr in the Northeast, $110–$200/hr in California, and $150–$300/hr for Alaska and offshore work. The Houston–Beaumont–Lake Charles corridor has the densest concentration of NDT firms in the country, and competition there keeps rates 15–25% below coastal and remote markets. These are regional ranges, and individual quotes can sit outside them. For state-level detail, see NDT inspection firm costs by state.

Access. Scaffolding, rope access, insulation removal and permits often cost more than the inspection itself. On the extreme end, total indirect costs for a single 400-foot stack inspection (scaffolding, lifting equipment, planned downtime, training and insurance) have been put at up to $165,000.

Timing. Overtime at 1.5x–2x, emergency minimums and rush reporting stack on top of each other. Planned work inside a maintenance window avoids all three.

Pro Tip:

Ask every bidder to price mobilization as its own line. Some firms bury a heavy mobilization charge inside a per-weld rate, which makes their unit price look high on small jobs and suspiciously low on large ones.

How to Compare NDT Quotes

Pricing for the same scope in the same market can vary 40–60%. Most of that spread comes from what each bidder assumed, not from what they charge per hour. A lump-sum day rate that bundles everything looks simple, but you cannot audit it or compare it against anyone else.

1. Write one scope and send it to three firms.

   Include weld counts and sizes, methods, governing code (AWS D1.1, API 1104, ASME Section V and so on), access conditions and the schedule. Without it, each bidder fills the gaps differently.

2. Require the same line items from everyone.

   Mobilization, labor, consumables, per diem, reporting and Level III review, each priced separately. Ask whether labor is productive hours only or portal-to-portal.

3. Normalize the units.

   Convert per-weld and per-shot prices into a total for your weld count, and add consumables for RT. Compare totals, not unit rates.

4. Check the multipliers.

   Overtime rule (after 8 hours? weekends?), standby rate, callout minimum and rush-report premium. These decide what a bad week costs you.

5. Add a 25% contingency to the winner.

   The rate guide’s budget worksheet carries a 25% contingency line for a reason. Access delays and re-shoots happen on most jobs.

For the questions that flush out weak bidders, see questions to ask before hiring an NDT inspection firm.

Certifications as a Cost Factor

Certification shows up on your invoice in two places: whose hours you are paying for, and which personnel standard the work requires.

Level II vs. Level III. Level III time costs about twice the Level II rate or more, $150–$400/hr against $85–$175/hr for a UT Level II. Level II technicians perform and interpret routine inspection. Keep Level III hours for writing procedures, settling interpretation disputes and code consultations. A quote that staffs routine scanning with a Level III is not a better quote. It is a more expensive one.

ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712. US personnel are typically qualified either to an employer written practice under ASNT SNT-TC-1A or to ISO 9712 certification. Neither adds a line item, but plant-specific qualifications stacked on top, as in nuclear work, are part of why that sector runs 30–60% over base. For what an ASNT Level III certification covers and how to verify it, see our guide.

NAS 410. Aerospace work requires personnel certified to NAS 410, which carries heavier training and experience requirements than SNT-TC-1A. Fewer technicians qualify, demand exceeds supply, and that is the main reason aerospace rates run 25–50% over base.

Use Level II technicians for routine inspection and reserve Level III hours for procedure development, interpretation disputes, and code consultations.

Paying less for an uncertified crew is rarely a saving. A report signed by someone who does not meet the governing code’s personnel requirement can mean a re-inspection at full price. See whether cheap NDT inspection firms are worth it.

Ways to Keep NDT Costs Down

Bundle methods into one mobilization.

Combining UT, MT and VT on one trip saves 30–50% compared with scheduling each method separately.

Sign a term contract if you have steady volume.

Annual contracts with guaranteed minimums typically yield 15–25% off spot rates. Many firms tier pricing at 500, 1,000 and 2,500+ hours.

Have the site ready before the crew arrives.

Scaffolding up, insulation off, surfaces cleaned, permits in hand. Standby at $50–$100/hr adds up fast.

Take standard reporting.

Rush 24-hour reports add 25–50%. If you do not need results before the next shift, 3–5 day reporting is cheaper.

Price digital radiography for high-volume RT.

DR removes film consumables ($5–$15/shot), darkroom processing and film storage. The hourly rate is higher, but the all-in cost is often lower on large shot counts.

Look at drones for stacks and elevated structures.

Reported drone-based stack inspections have cut one stack job from 25 days to 1.5 days, and another case reported about 30% lower cost than rope climbers with a two-person crew. It does not fit every asset, so ask whether it fits yours.

Run the in-house math above $200K a year.

If you spend $200K or more a year on routine UT thickness surveys or MT, training and certifying in-house Level I/II technicians may cost less.

Red Flag:

A quote that gives one bundled day rate and refuses to break out mobilization, consumables and reporting cannot be compared or audited. Ask for the itemized version. If the firm will not provide it, move on.

What Whole Projects Typically Cost

Unit rates add up fast. As a rough guide to total project cost:

These ranges vary widely with scope, access and region. Use the rate guide’s budget worksheet to build your own number line by line before you request quotes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does NDT inspection cost per hour?

For a Level II technician from a third-party firm in the continental US, roughly $65–$120/hr for VT, $75–$140/hr for MT and PT, $85–$175/hr for UT, $95–$200/hr for film RT, $125–$250/hr for PAUT and $150–$300/hr for TOFD. Level III time runs $150–$400/hr. Region moves these numbers: Gulf Coast rates sit at the lower end, while California, the Northeast, Alaska and offshore work sit higher.

How much does UT cost per weld?

Conventional ultrasonic testing typically runs $15–$75 per weld, phased array $40–$150 per weld, and TOFD $50–$200 per weld. The spread follows pipe diameter, wall thickness, code acceptance criteria and whether encoded data is required. Confirm whether mobilization is inside or outside the per-weld price.

Why is radiographic testing more expensive than ultrasonic?

RT carries film or imaging costs ($5–$15 per shot for film), a radiation safety officer at $75–$150/hr if not bundled, dosimetry, and an exclusion zone that stops other trades from working nearby. Altogether RT usually costs 2–3x more than UT for the same weld. It remains required by some codes, so check before switching.

What is a typical NDT day rate?

A Level II technician on a 10-hour shift typically runs $850–$2,000 per day. Day rates are standard for turnarounds and shutdowns. Add per diem ($100–$350/day) if the crew is traveling, and confirm when overtime at 1.5x–2x starts.

What hidden fees should I expect on an NDT quote?

The common ones are mobilization ($500–$5,000+), per diem, overtime, emergency callout minimums ($500–$1,500), standby ($50–$100/hr), report writing, specialized equipment rental and, for RT, consumables and radiation safety. Budget 25–40% above the base inspection rate to cover them.

Is there a downloadable NDT price list?

Yes. The NDT Inspection Rate Guide 2026 is a free PDF with the same method rates, regional and industry ranges, hidden-fee table and a printable budget worksheet.

How do I get the best price from an NDT firm?

Send an identical written scope to three firms, require itemized line items, bundle methods into one mobilization, schedule inside planned maintenance windows and use Level III time only where it is needed. Quotes for identical scopes can differ 40–60%, so comparing three is worth the effort.

Ready to price your scope? Browse NDT inspection firms on NDTIntel and request quotes from credentialed providers near your facility.