Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.
National median · BLS
$51,430
▲ +0.49%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$60,180
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
31,460
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,690
25th
$45,640
Median (50th)
$51,430
75th
$65,010
90th — top pay
$82,540
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Semiconductor Processing Technicians
BLS projects employment of semiconductor processing technicians to grow 8.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 3,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
31,200 → 33,800
+2,600 jobs
Projected change
+8.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Semiconductor Processing Technicians salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Semiconductor Processing Technicians salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Semiconductor Processing Technicians
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.6
Critical Thinking3.4
Reading Comprehension3.4
Active Listening3.3
Monitoring3.3
Quality Control Analysis3.3
Coordination2.9
Equipment Maintenance2.9
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Operation and Control2.9
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.9
English Language3.8
Public Safety and Security3.4
Computers and Electronics3.4
Education and Training3.3
Chemistry3.2
Customer and Personal Service3.0
Mathematics2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointPythonSAP softwareMicrosoft WordCamstar Systems Camstar Semiconductor SuiteDatabase softwareEyelit ManufacturingNational Instruments TestStandyieldWerx
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What semiconductor processing technicians do
Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
Study work orders, instructions, formulas, and processing charts to determine specifications and sequence of operations.
Clean semiconductor wafers using cleaning equipment, such as chemical baths, automatic wafer cleaners, or blow-off wands.
Maintain processing, production, and inspection information and reports.
Place semiconductor wafers in processing containers or equipment holders, using vacuum wand or tweezers.
Load and unload equipment chambers and transport finished product to storage or to area for further processing.
Manipulate valves, switches, and buttons, or key commands into control panels to start semiconductor processing cycles.
Inspect equipment for leaks, diagnose malfunctions, and request repairs.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Semiconductor Processing Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $51,430.
