# Semiconductor Processing Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/semiconductor-processing-technicians
- SOC code: 51-9141.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $51,430 (10th percentile $37,690, 90th percentile $82,540)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +8.2%
- Openings a year: 3,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 35 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 69 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 84/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 80/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 79/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, Judgment and Decision Making, Operation and Control

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Chemistry, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Crystal Cutter, Crystal Finisher, Crystal Grower, Crystal Growing Technician (Crystal Growing Tech), Crystal Lapper, Crystal Machining Coordinator, Crystal Mounter, Crystal Slicer, Device Processing Engineer, Die Attacher

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1506) (CIP 1506, 576 colleges)
- [Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4701) (CIP 4701, 301 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $73,259 | $103,769 | $12,943 |
| [SUNY Buffalo State](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-buffalo-state-2641) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $98,018 | not reported |
| [Weber State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/weber-state-university-3186) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $80,213 | $94,454 | not reported |
| [Ferris State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ferris-state-university-949) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $81,192 | $91,993 | $22,907 |
| [University of Southern Mississippi](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-mississippi-3053) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $82,853 | $89,904 | $27,474 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $75,563 | $89,629 | $20,000 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $78,209 | $89,195 | not reported |
| [Northern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northern-kentucky-university-1928) | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $78,309 | $88,492 | $21,706 |

## Related careers

- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 median pay
- [Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plating-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $43,960 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-equipment-assemblers): $45,850 median pay
- [Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-forming-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-synthetic-and-glass-fibers): $46,350 median pay
- [Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-drawing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $47,720 median pay
- [Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $47,920 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.