Semiconductor processing technicians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Semiconductor processing technicians in the United States earn a median salary of $51,430 per year — about $25 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 32K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +11%.
AI & Automation Risk
The role involves a significant physical component, requiring presence in cleanrooms to handle wafers, maintain equipment, and perform manual inspections. However, AI and advanced automation are increasingly capable of monitoring process data, optimizing machine parameters, and performing high-precision quality control, which automates the information-processing and monitoring aspects of the job.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZBEST VALUE | $78,940 | Above avg (103.3) | $76,406 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,320 | Average (101.4) | $61,449 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,740 | Above avg (105.7) | $60,327 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,810 | Above avg (105.4) | $59,580 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,780 | Above avg (104.8) | $55,122 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,110 | Above avg (108.3) | $54,597 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $55,170 | Above avg (110.5) | $49,912 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $48,580 | Average (100.1) | $48,552 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $54,280 | Above avg (112.6) | $48,222 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $47,270 | Average (101.9) | $46,408 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,820 | Above avg (110.4) | $46,023 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,200 | Above avg (111.9) | $42,185 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $40,620 | Average (100.9) | $40,270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,340 | Above avg (115.6) | $40,082 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,440 | Above avg (103.1) | $37,288 |