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Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $51,430 Median per year · $24.73/hr Most earn $37,690–$82,540

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Etch, lap, polish, or grind wafers or ingots to form circuitry and change conductive properties, using etching, lapping, polishing, or grinding equipment.
  • Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
  • Load and unload equipment chambers and transport finished product to storage or to area for further processing.
  • Maintain processing, production, and inspection information and reports.
  • Count, sort, and weigh processed items.
  • Inspect equipment for leaks, diagnose malfunctions, and request repairs.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 3,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing88.7%
  • Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing8.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the work on the job, usually within about 1 to 3 months. You don't need a college degree to begin.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a solid base in math, chemistry, physics, and any electronics or shop classes, since these show up in daily semiconductor work.

  2. Semiconductor Processing Technician

    1-3 months of on-the-job training

    You learn to load wafers and material into furnaces, run chemical baths, and monitor equipment under experienced technicians, which is the core of this career.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Process Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex equipment, train newer technicians, and troubleshoot problems that stop production, which requires deep hands-on skill and reliability.

  2. Microsystems Engineer

    4 to 6 years of experience first

    You design and improve the manufacturing processes themselves, which typically requires a master's degree and experience working in the field first.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry and physicsThese classes explain the materials, heat, and chemical reactions that technicians work with every day.
  • Take algebra and geometryMeasuring precisely and reading equipment settings depend on strong math skills.
  • Join a robotics, electronics, or science clubHands-on building teaches you to follow procedures, troubleshoot, and work carefully with small parts.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny job that requires following safety rules and careful routines builds the habits employers look for in technicians.
  • Enter a science fair or engineering competitionDesigning and testing a project shows you how experiments and careful records work in a lab setting.

In college

  • Take chemistry, physics, and electronics coursesCourses in these areas build the technical knowledge behind furnace, chemical, and wafer processes.
  • Look for a lab or campus research jobWorking in a lab teaches clean, careful procedures and equipment handling similar to a fab floor.
  • Apply for a manufacturing or cleanroom internshipInternships give you real exposure to semiconductor or electronics production and often lead to job offers.
  • Join a student engineering or technology clubClubs help you build teamwork, troubleshooting skills, and professional connections in the field.
  • Consider a short certificate in electronics or semiconductor technologyA focused certificate, if your school or a local college offers one, can show employers you already know the basics.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school or a local employer about job shadowing or tours of a manufacturing plant or lab, so you can see clean-room work up close.
  • Get comfortable with safety rules and careful, precise work, because these matter a lot in semiconductor plants and are easy to show in any job you have.
  • Look at the pay near you and nationally on the career's own page, since it shows the full range and how it varies by location and experience.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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