Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Semiconductor Processing Technicians (SOC 51-9141) earn a median $51,430 a year ($24.73 an hour) in the United States, with 31,460 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Arizona.
What semiconductor processing technicians do
Semiconductor processing technicians carry out the manufacturing steps involved in making electronic semiconductors. Depending on the job, they load semiconductor material into furnaces, saw ingots into segments, clean wafers in chemical baths or automatic cleaners, load and unload process chambers, and move finished wafers to storage or the next area. They study work orders, formulas, and processing charts to find the specifications and order of operations, then start processing cycles by keying commands into control panels or manipulating valves and switches. Materials and products are inspected for surface defects, and circuitry is measured with electronic test equipment and precision instruments. Production and inspection information is kept in reports. Wafers are placed in processing containers or holders with a vacuum wand or tweezers, and equipment upkeep includes changing the etching and rinsing solutions and cleaning the baths.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Charge Preparation Technician, Chemical Etch Operator, Circuit Recorder, Crystal Cutter, Crystal Finisher.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.12 | $21.94 | $24.73 | $31.25 | $39.68 | $28.93 | 31,460 |
| Annual | $37,690 | $45,640 | $51,430 | $65,010 | $82,540 | $60,180 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where semiconductor processing technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $18.46 | $24.61 | $37.95 | $38.79 | $49.12 | $35.00 | 2,270 | 0.70 | 3.46 |
| Annual | $38,410 | $51,190 | $78,940 | $80,670 | $102,180 | $72,800 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.42 | $28.39 | $30.45 | $38.68 | $38.71 | $32.52 | 6,620 | 3.36 | 16.63 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $59,040 | $63,330 | $80,450 | $80,510 | $67,640 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $19.22 | $24.01 | $29.97 | $32.39 | $38.65 | $29.24 | 190 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $39,980 | $49,950 | $62,330 | $67,370 | $80,390 | $60,820 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $23.80 | $24.53 | $28.22 | $30.20 | $35.83 | $28.22 | 990 | 0.28 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $49,490 | $51,030 | $58,710 | $62,810 | $74,520 | $58,690 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $23.63 | $23.76 | $27.78 | $27.79 | $27.90 | $26.55 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $49,160 | $49,420 | $57,780 | $57,810 | $58,030 | $55,210 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.42 | $28.39 | $30.45 | $38.68 | $38.71 | $32.52 | 6,620 | 3.36 | 16.63 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $59,040 | $63,330 | $80,450 | $80,510 | $67,640 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.26 | $17.80 | $18.48 | $22.12 | $28.61 | $20.69 | 6,110 | 0.43 | 2.15 |
| Annual | $31,750 | $37,020 | $38,440 | $46,000 | $59,500 | $43,040 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.50 | $22.13 | $23.09 | $26.75 | $29.34 | $24.24 | 4,650 | 0.26 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $40,550 | $46,020 | $48,030 | $55,640 | $61,030 | $50,420 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $18.46 | $24.61 | $37.95 | $38.79 | $49.12 | $35.00 | 2,270 | 0.70 | 3.46 |
| Annual | $38,410 | $51,190 | $78,940 | $80,670 | $102,180 | $72,800 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.48 | $23.48 | $23.75 | $28.23 | $29.91 | $26.08 | 1,750 | 0.18 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $48,830 | $48,830 | $49,400 | $58,710 | $62,210 | $54,240 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $18.47 | $24.61 | $37.95 | $38.79 | $49.12 | $35.06 | 2,260 | 0.95 | 4.70 |
| Annual | $38,410 | $51,190 | $78,940 | $80,670 | $102,180 | $72,930 | ||||
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | Hourly | $22.74 | $24.93 | $30.64 | $33.37 | $36.07 | $29.98 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $47,300 | $51,850 | $63,740 | $69,400 | $75,020 | $62,350 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $23.64 | $24.94 | $30.20 | $38.68 | $38.71 | $32.16 | 7,290 | 6.03 | 29.81 |
| Annual | $49,180 | $51,870 | $62,810 | $80,450 | $80,510 | $66,890 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | $17.94 | $23.31 | $29.96 | $31.02 | $38.65 | $28.29 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $37,310 | $48,490 | $62,320 | $64,510 | $80,390 | $58,850 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $23.12 | $23.41 | $28.42 | $29.30 | $36.01 | $28.06 | 560 | 0.21 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $48,100 | $48,690 | $59,110 | $60,950 | $74,890 | $58,360 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $23.64 | $24.94 | $30.20 | $38.68 | $38.71 | $32.16 | 7,290 | 6.03 | 29.81 |
| Annual | $49,180 | $51,870 | $62,810 | $80,450 | $80,510 | $66,890 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.31 | $17.87 | $18.48 | $24.09 | $28.68 | $21.43 | 3,190 | 0.79 | 3.90 |
| Annual | $36,010 | $37,160 | $38,440 | $50,120 | $59,650 | $44,570 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $18.47 | $24.61 | $37.95 | $38.79 | $49.12 | $35.06 | 2,260 | 0.95 | 4.70 |
| Annual | $38,410 | $51,190 | $78,940 | $80,670 | $102,180 | $72,930 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.80 | $22.91 | $24.44 | $27.54 | $30.23 | $26.00 | 2,130 | 1.88 | 9.28 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $47,640 | $50,820 | $57,290 | $62,890 | $54,070 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.50 | $19.50 | $19.60 | $23.50 | $26.43 | $21.58 | 1,080 | 0.17 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $40,550 | $40,770 | $48,880 | $54,980 | $44,880 | ||||
Top industries employing semiconductor processing technicians
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing employ 88.4% of semiconductor processing technicians nationally (27,820 jobs) at a median $52,450 a year ($25.22 an hour), followed by Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (8.8%) and Scientific Research and Development Services (0.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing NAICS 334400 | 27,820 | 88.4% | $52,450 | $25.22 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing NAICS 334100 | 2,780 | 8.8% | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 280 | 0.9% | $81,450 | $39.16 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 220 | 0.7% | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing NAICS 334500 | 50 | 0.2% | $57,120 | $27.46 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (31,460). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $39,870 for semiconductor processing technicians in May 2021 and $51,430 in May 2025, with employment of 24,020 and 31,460.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $39,870 | $19.17 | 24,020 |
| May 2022 | $44,690 | $21.49 | 23,860 |
| May 2023 | $45,850 | $22.04 | 26,450 |
| May 2024 | $51,180 | $24.60 | 32,150 |
| May 2025 | $51,430 | $24.73 | 31,460 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
21 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona profile | $37.95 | $78,940 | $38,410 | $102,180 | 2,270 | 0.70 | 3.46 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $30.45 | $63,330 | $48,720 | $80,510 | 6,620 | 3.36 | 16.63 |
| 3 | Florida profile | $29.97 | $62,330 | $39,980 | $80,390 | 190 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $28.22 | $58,710 | $49,490 | $74,520 | 990 | 0.28 | 1.38 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $27.78 | $57,780 | $49,160 | $58,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | North Carolina profile | $27.00 | $56,160 | $39,640 | $83,770 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.06 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $25.17 | $52,360 | $38,110 | $65,010 | 790 | 0.27 | 1.35 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $24.72 | $51,410 | $41,870 | $72,750 | 1,190 | 0.33 | 1.62 |
| 9 | New York profile | $23.75 | $49,400 | $48,830 | $62,210 | 1,750 | 0.18 | 0.89 |
| 10 | Georgia profile | $23.35 | $48,580 | $41,320 | $48,580 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | California profile | $23.09 | $48,030 | $40,550 | $61,030 | 4,650 | 0.26 | 1.26 |
| 12 | New Hampshire profile | $22.94 | $47,710 | $46,790 | $74,390 | 130 | 0.19 | 0.96 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $22.89 | $47,610 | $42,020 | $60,770 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.21 |
| 14 | Maine profile | $22.73 | $47,270 | $40,120 | $62,130 | 320 | 0.50 | 2.46 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $22.60 | $47,000 | $45,470 | $56,040 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.32 | $46,430 | $36,640 | $61,890 | 340 | 0.06 | 0.27 |
| 17 | Utah profile | $19.60 | $40,760 | $32,070 | $54,960 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.34 |
| 18 | Arkansas profile | $19.53 | $40,610 | $36,500 | $51,620 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $18.48 | $38,440 | $31,750 | $59,500 | 6,110 | 0.43 | 2.15 |
| 20 | Nevada profile | $17.93 | $37,290 | $35,020 | $45,740 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Michigan profile | * | * | * | * | 270 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-9141 Semiconductor Processing Technicians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-9141, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-9141.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.