Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Semiconductor processing technicians work in a specialized production environment supporting the manufacture of semiconductor products. The role combines mechanical ability, attention to detail, fine motor skills, and physical strength and stamina with science knowledge and comfort with computers and information technology. Nationally, about 32,000 people are employed in this occupation, and employment is projected to grow by 10.9%, with approximately 4,000 openings each year. This combination of an established employment base and continued growth suggests ongoing hiring needs. The typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a technical career path that is accessible without a college degree. Strong skills in writing and reading, critical and analytical thinking, interpersonal communication, and leadership can further support advancement. For individuals interested in hands-on, technology-focused production work, semiconductor processing technician roles present a structured pathway with defined skills and stable national demand. Similar occupations include several other production and machine operation careers, offering alternate directions within manufacturing environments.
Semiconductor processing technicians earn a national median annual salary of $51,180. This places earnings in a solid mid-range for roles that typically require a high school diploma or equivalent. Salaries vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median of $58,710 and Colorado $52,360, both above the national median. Massachusetts at $51,410 is close to the national figure, while New York at $49,400 and California at $48,030 are somewhat lower. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH shows a median salary of $59,110, and the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports $54,280. Other key metros range from $40,770 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim to $50,820 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. Overall, earnings potential is influenced by geography, with some states and metros offering higher median pay than others for the same occupation.
National employment for semiconductor processing technicians is 32,000, indicating a moderate workforce size in this specialized production field. Projected employment growth of 10.9% points to a meaningful expansion over the projection period. In addition, there are about 4,000 annual openings. This combination of existing employment, projected growth, and yearly openings suggests that both new positions and replacement needs will continue to create opportunities. The consistent 10.9% growth rate also appears in the top states and metros listed, showing that the projected expansion is not limited to a single region. For job seekers and career changers, this means semiconductor processing technician roles may offer a relatively steady flow of openings over time. While the data do not specify the reasons for this growth, they indicate that employers across multiple locations are expected to maintain or increase hiring in this occupation during the projection period.
Opportunities for semiconductor processing technicians are distributed across several states and metros, with some locations showing particularly strong scores. Among states, California has the largest listed employment at 4,650, with a median salary of $48,030 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York have smaller employment counts—1,190 and 1,750 respectively—but similar growth rates of 10.9% and opportunity scores above 65. Colorado and Washington have lower employment numbers (790 and 990), but higher median salaries of $52,360 and $58,710. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with high opportunity scores above 77. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH combines one of the highest median salaries at $59,110 with a strong opportunity score. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim also provide notable employment bases. These differences give candidates options to weigh pay levels, opportunity scores, and local job counts when choosing where to focus their search.
The typical education requirement for semiconductor processing technicians is a high school diploma or equivalent, which makes this career accessible to individuals who have not completed a college degree. However, the skill profile is broad and technical. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina are important, reflecting the hands-on and physically engaged nature of the work environment. Science knowledge and comfort with computers and information technology support the more technical aspects of the role. Being detail oriented is also highlighted, which is consistent with work where precision matters. Beyond technical abilities, the occupation values leadership, interpersonal skills, and strong writing and reading abilities, along with critical and analytical thinking. Together, these skills suggest that success in this field comes from a mix of practical, cognitive, and communication strengths. Individuals who build these capabilities—starting from a high school education—can position themselves competitively for semiconductor processing technician positions and related production roles.
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