Semiconductor Processors

What Semiconductor Processors Do

Semiconductor processing technicians oversee the manufacturing of electronic semiconductors, which are commonly known as integrated circuits or microchips. These microchips are found in all electronic devices—including cell phones, cars, and laptops—and are an important part of modern life.

Semiconductor processing technicians typically do the following:

• Look over work orders, instructions, and processing charts to determine a work schedule
• Monitor machines that slice silicon crystals into wafers for processing
• Use robots to clean and polish the silicon wafers
• Load wafers into the equipment that creates patterns and forms the electronic circuitry
• Set and adjust controls to regulate the manufacturing equipment’s power level, temperature, and other process parameters
• Adjust the process equipment and repair as needed during the manufacturing process
• Test completed microchips to ensure they work properly
• Review the manufacturing process and suggest improvements

Semiconductor processing technicians, also known as process technicians, are largely responsible for quality control in the manufacturing process. They check equipment regularly for problems and test completed chips to make sure they work properly. If a problem with a chip does arise, they determine if it is due to contamination of that particular wafer or if it was caused by a flaw in the manufacturing process.

How to Become a Semiconductor Processor

Education and training:

• Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Work experience in a related occupation: None
• Typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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Many semiconductor processing technicians have an associate’s degree in a field such as microelectronics. These programs are usually offered at community colleges. Students should take science and engineering courses, such as chemistry, physics, and classes in electronic circuits.

There is an emerging trend of employers preferring semiconductor processing technicians to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a physical science because of the increasing complexity of the manufacturing plants.

New semiconductor processing technicians need on-the-job training from 1 month to 1 year. During this training, a processor learns how to operate equipment and test new chips. Manufacturing microchips is a complex process, and it takes months of supervised work to become fully proficient.

Workers with more education may have learned some techniques in school and need less on-the-job training. Because the technology used in manufacturing microchips is always evolving, technicians must continue to be trained on new techniques and methods throughout their careers.

Semiconductor Processing Technician Salaries

• 2020 employment: 33,200
• May 2021 median annual wage: $39,870

Job Outlook for Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Projected employment change, 2020-30:

• Number of new jobs: -600
• Growth rate: -2 percent (Decline)

*Some content used by permission of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

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