Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Summary

Semiconductor processing technicians regulate equipment used to manufacture microchips.

Quick Facts: Semiconductor Processing Technicians
2023 Median Pay	$45,850 per year $22.04 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2023	26,600
Job Outlook, 2023-33	13% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2023-33	3,400

What Semiconductor Processing Technicians Do

Semiconductor processing technicians perform tasks in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors, commonly known as integrated circuits or microchips, that are used in cars, smartphones, and other everyday devices.

Work Environment

Most semiconductor processing technicians are employed full time, primarily in manufacturing plants. They work in “cleanrooms” and must wear special garments over their clothing to keep the cleanroom free from contamination.

How to Become a Semiconductor Processing Technician

Semiconductor processing technicians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent to enter the occupation. Some technicians complete a certificate or associate’s degree program. Once hired, they typically receive on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage for semiconductor processing technicians was $45,850 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of semiconductor processing technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 3,400 openings for semiconductor processing technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for semiconductor processing technicians.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of semiconductor processing technicians with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about semiconductor processing technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Semiconductor Processing Technicians Do About this section

Semiconductor processing technicians are largely responsible for quality control in the manufacturing process.

Semiconductor processing technicians perform tasks in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors, commonly known as integrated circuits or microchips, that are used in cars, smartphones, and other everyday devices. Throughout production, these workers process silicon crystals into flat wafers, the primary material used in manufacturing semiconductors.

Duties

Semiconductor processing technicians typically do the following:

• Review work orders and processing charts
• Monitor machines that slice silicon crystals into wafers for processing
• Use equipment to clean and polish the silicon wafers
• Load wafers into the equipment that creates patterns and forms electronic circuitry
• Set and adjust manufacturing equipment controls
• Adjust equipment and repair as needed during the manufacturing process
• Test completed microchips to ensure that they work properly
• Review manufacturing processes and suggest improvements

Semiconductor processing technicians are largely responsible for quality control in the manufacturing process. Their tasks ensure that robotics and other automated machinery operate during production according to set parameters so that completed microchips function properly.

Before production begins, semiconductor processing technicians prepare to enter the contamination-free “cleanroom” by putting on special garments, called “bunny suits,” to preserve its sterile environment. Inside the cleanroom, they are assigned a station at which they operate equipment such as a photolithography machine, which projects light beams to imprint a pattern on wafers; an etching machine, which cuts or dissolves the pattern into the wafers’ surface; or polishing machines that remove irregularities from the wafers’ outer layer. They monitor the equipment during manufacturing and control the electrical, temperature, or other process parameters to ensure quality.

Throughout production, semiconductor processing technicians test wafers for imperfections. They may perform a process inspection using an optical or electron microscope. They also capture process data from the manufacturing equipment and record data as part of their testing documentation. The data these technicians collect are crucial to helping engineers determine the source of any production issues that may arise.

Work Environment About this section

Semiconductor processing technicians wear special lightweight garments, called “bunny suits,” over their clothes.

Semiconductor processing technicians held about 26,600 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of semiconductor processing technicians were as follows:

Semiconductor processing technicians work in “cleanrooms” that are filtered to be free of impurities in order to avoid damaging the microchips produced. They also wear special lightweight garments, called “bunny suits,” over their clothes to keep contaminants such as lint, dust, or other particles from disrupting the manufacturing process.

Work Schedules

Most semiconductor processing technicians work full time. Shift work is common and may include early mornings, nights, and weekends because semiconductor manufacturing facilities operate around the clock.

How to Become a Semiconductor Processing Technician About this section

Newly hired semiconductor processing technicians typically receive on-the-job training.

Semiconductor processing technicians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent to enter the occupation. Some technicians complete a certificate or associate’s degree program. Once hired, they typically receive on-the-job training.

Education

Semiconductor processing technicians typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation. High school students interested in becoming semiconductor processing technicians should take classes in mathematics, science, and electronics.

However, there are other paths to becoming a technician. For example, some candidates with a high school diploma complete a certificate program that prepares them to operate semiconductor processing equipment. Other candidates have an associate’s degree in a field such as industrial electronics technology or microelectronics. Postsecondary certificate and associate’s degree programs, which may include skills training, are usually offered at community colleges.

Some students gain hands-on experience through internships with local semiconductor processing facilities. These partnerships allow aspiring technicians to work in a cleanroom environment and observe processing activities such as wafer handling, quality control, and documentation, as well as to operate equipment. Employers may require candidates to have completed a skills program demonstrating their understanding of semiconductor production equipment.

Training

Newly hired semiconductor processing technicians typically receive on-the-job training. During this training, technicians learn how to work in a cleanroom, operate equipment, and test new microchips.

Length of training varies but typically lasts from 1 month to 1 year. Workers whose educational program included instruction on the equipment or techniques used in microchip manufacturing may need less on-the-job training.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Semiconductor processing technicians must be able to clearly convey to engineers and others their recommendations for improving the manufacturing process.

Computer skills. Semiconductor processing technicians must be able to modify specifications in programmable manufacturing equipment, such as to adjust for changes in robot sensing requirements.

Critical-thinking skills. Semiconductor processing technicians use logic and reasoning to uncover problems and determine solutions during the manufacturing process.

Detail oriented. Semiconductor processing technicians must be able to spot tiny imperfections because minor errors can ruin a microchip.

Dexterity. Semiconductor processing technicians must be able to make precise cuts and measurements with manufacturing tools and equipment.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for semiconductor processing technicians was $45,850 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,610, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,870.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for semiconductor processing technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most semiconductor processing technicians work full time. Shift work is common and may include early mornings, nights, and weekends because semiconductor manufacturing facilities operate around the clock.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of semiconductor processing technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 3,400 openings for semiconductor processing technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Rising demand for semiconductors—which are used in a wide range of products, from vehicles to medical equipment—is expected to create jobs for these workers over the projections decade. In addition, federal funding for the construction of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities, expansions of existing plants, and tax credits for manufacturers’ equipment expenses are expected to spur new investments in U.S. semiconductor production, further increasing the need for semiconductor processing technicians.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Semiconductor processing technicians

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about semiconductor processing technicians, visit

SEMI Careers

Semiconductor Industry Association

O*NET

Semiconductor Processing Technicians