Semiconductor Processing Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Semiconductor Processing Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $51,430 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 31,460. Wage data is published for 34 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-9141.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$51,430
Hourly median
$24.73
Employment
31,460
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Operation and Control | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
Technology
- Camstar Systems Camstar Semiconductor Suite
- Database software
- Eyelit Manufacturing
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- National Instruments TestStand
- Python
- SAP software
- yieldWerx
Semiconductor Processing Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in Portland, ORMedian $62,810 · Employment 7,290
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in ORMedian $63,330 · Employment 6,620
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in TXMedian $38,440 · Employment 6,110
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in CAMedian $48,030 · Employment 4,650
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $38,440 · Employment 3,190
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in AZMedian $78,940 · Employment 2,270
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $78,940 · Employment 2,260
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $50,820 · Employment 2,130
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in NYMedian $49,400 · Employment 1,750
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in MAMedian $51,410 · Employment 1,190
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $40,770 · Employment 1,080
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary in WAMedian $58,710 · Employment 990
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.