Semiconductor Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Semiconductor technicians are highly skilled workers who test new kinds of semiconductor devices (which are commonly known as integrated circuits or microchips) being designed for use in many kinds of modern electronic equipment. They may also test samples of devices already in production to assess production techniques. They help develop and evaluate the test equipment used to gather information about the semiconductor devices. Working under the direction provided by engineers in research laboratory settings, they assist in the des...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Semiconductor processing technicians (a category that includes semiconductor technicians) earned a median hourly wage of $22.04, or $45,850 a year, in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Ten percent of all workers earned less than $15.20 an hour ($31,610 a year), while the top 10 percent earned $32.63 or more an hour ($67,870 a year or more). Technicians earning higher salaries...
Work Environment
The work of semiconductor technicians is not physically strenuous and is usually done in an extremely clean environment. Technicians may work with hazardous chemicals, however, and proper safety precautions must be strictly followed. Because of the large demand for semiconductors and related devices, many facilities operate with two 12-hour shifts, meaning that a technician may be assigned to t...
Outlook
In an October 2024 report, IBISWorld estimated that semiconductor and circuit manufacturing industry employment had grown 1.0 percent between 2018 and 2023. However, it noted that the average company employed fewer workers than it did five years ago.
Many semiconductor manufacturers have installed new machinery that can produce twice as many wafers as the old machines. This increased aut...