Semiconductor Processing Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Production · SOC 51-9141 · O*NET 51-9141.00
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.
Semiconductor Processing Technicians fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Semiconductor Processing Technicians earn a median salary of $51,180 per year, ranking in the top 60% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +10.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do semiconductor processing technicians earn?
The median annual wage for semiconductor processing technicians is $51,180. That puts semiconductor processing technicians at #486 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $35,980 |
| 25th percentile | $45,320 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $51,180 |
| 75th percentile | $74,640 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,190 |
| Median hourly wage | $24.60/hr |
Is semiconductor processing technicians a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for semiconductor processing technicians is +10.9%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 31K positions in 2024 to 35K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.
What do semiconductor processing technicians do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working semiconductor processing technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Manipulate valves, switches, and buttons, or key commands into control panels to start semiconductor processing cycles.
- 2.Maintain processing, production, and inspection information and reports.
- 3.Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
- 4.Load and unload equipment chambers and transport finished product to storage or to area for further processing.
- 5.Clean and maintain equipment, including replacing etching and rinsing solutions and cleaning bath containers and work area.
- 6.Clean semiconductor wafers using cleaning equipment, such as chemical baths, automatic wafer cleaners, or blow-off wands.
- 7.Study work orders, instructions, formulas, and processing charts to determine specifications and sequence of operations.
- 8.Place semiconductor wafers in processing containers or equipment holders, using vacuum wand or tweezers.
Top skills for semiconductor processing technicians
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become semiconductor processing technician?
Semiconductor Processing Technicians typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about semiconductor processing technicians
What is the median salary for semiconductor processing technicians?
The median annual salary for semiconductor processing technicians is $51,180 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is semiconductor processing technicians a growing career?
BLS projects +10.9% growth for semiconductor processing technicians from 2024 through 2034, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become semiconductor processing technician?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to semiconductor processing technicians?
Related occupations within the Production category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.