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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.
Other titles employers use
Device Processing Engineer · Diffusion Operator · Manufacture Specialist · Manufacturing Technician · Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineer (MOCVD Engineer) · Probe Operator · Process Technician · Wafer Fabrication Operator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Manipulate valves, switches, and buttons, or key commands into control panels to start semiconductor processing cycles.
- Maintain processing, production, and inspection information and reports.
- Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
- Clean semiconductor wafers using cleaning equipment, such as chemical baths, automatic wafer cleaners, or blow-off wands.
- Study work orders, instructions, formulas, and processing charts to determine specifications and sequence of operations.
- Load and unload equipment chambers and transport finished product to storage or to area for further processing.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
Subjects to know
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.4 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.6 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 3.9 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.9 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 96%
- A two-year degree 2%
- A certificate or some college 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Industrial control software
- Data base user interface and query software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 5,470
- Job openings each year
- 600
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 5,470 | 600 | 7.0% |
| Texas | 5,050 | 590 | 28.5% |
| California | 3,700 | 400 | 5.7% |
| Arizona | 3,100 | 350 | 17.0% |
| New York | 1,750 | 10 | 7.4% |
| Idaho | 1,160 | 140 | 31.8% |
| Ohio | 1,080 | 130 | 24.1% |
| Washington | 1,000 | 110 | 2.0% |
| Colorado | 720 | 80 | 5.9% |
| Massachusetts | 500 | 50 | −7.4% |
| Utah | 480 | 60 | 29.7% |
| Minnesota | 400 | 50 | 14.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 390 | 40 | 11.4% |
| North Carolina | 340 | 40 | 9.7% |
| New Mexico | 310 | 40 | 14.8% |
| Michigan | 240 | 30 | 9.1% |
| Maryland | 140 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Florida | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
East Carolina University
- Degrees each year
- 193
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 124
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 104
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Ferris State University
- Degrees each year
- 86
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Mississippi State University
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
University of Southern Mississippi
- Degrees each year
- 69
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Degrees each year
- 58
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Degrees each year
- 57
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Compare every college offering industrial production technologies/technicians