Microfabrication Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Microfabrication technician assist engineers in the research, design, development, and testing of microfabricated systems—or, as they are more commonly known, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The dimensions of a microelectromechanical system can range from less than one micrometer to several millimeters. These are tiny systems: there are an estimated 25,400 micrometers in just one inch. There are many uses for microelectromechanical systems. For example, MEMS are used in microsensors, computer chips, flat-panel displays, and p...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Electromechanical technicians earned median annual salaries of $58,350 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The top 10 percent of workers earned $93,450 or more, while the least-experienced workers received $36,520 or less. Those that worked in engineering services earned about $60,360 per year, while those who worked for semiconductor and other electronic component manufactu...
Work Environment
Typical work settings for microfabrication technicians include cleanrooms (in which they are required to wear full-body clean, or "bunny," suits), research laboratories, offices, and processing or manufacturing plants. Technicians can expect a typical 40-hour workweek, although they may occasionally be required to work overtime at night and on weekends to meet project deadlines. In settings whe...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) does not provide an employment outlook for microfabrication technicians, but it does predict that electromechanical technicians will have average employment growth, about 3 percent, through 2029. These technicians have similar responsibilities to those of microfabrication technicians. According to the DOL, "industries in which new jobs are expected for these w...