Semiconductor Processing Technician salary in the U.S.
Semiconductor Processing Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $51,430 a year ($24.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,540 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $60,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for semiconductor processing technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| 25th percentile | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Median | $51,430 | $24.73 |
| 75th percentile | $65,010 | $31.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,540 | $39.68 |
| Average (mean) | $60,180 | $28.93 |
Half of semiconductor processing technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,285.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,142.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,978.08 |
| Weekly | $989.04 |
| Hourly | $24.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Semiconductor Processing Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $78,940 | 2,270 |
| Oregon | $63,330 | 6,620 |
| Florida | $62,330 | 190 |
| Washington | $58,710 | 990 |
| Minnesota | $57,780 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $56,160 | 60 |
| Colorado | $52,360 | 790 |
| Massachusetts | $51,410 | 1,190 |
| New York | $49,400 | 1,750 |
| Georgia | $48,580 | n/a |
| California | $48,030 | 4,650 |
| New Hampshire | $47,710 | 130 |
| Maryland | $47,610 | 120 |
| Maine | $47,270 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $47,000 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,430 | 340 |
| Utah | $40,760 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $40,610 | 40 |
| Texas | $38,440 | 6,110 |
| Nevada | $37,290 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for semiconductor processing technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $78,940 | 2,260 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,740 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,810 | 7,290 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,320 | 100 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,110 | 560 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,780 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $55,170 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $54,280 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,820 | 2,130 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $48,580 | n/a |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $47,270 | 320 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,200 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,340 | 680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,770 | 1,080 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $40,620 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most semiconductor processing technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 7,290 | $62,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,190 | $38,440 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,260 | $78,940 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,130 | $50,820 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,080 | $40,770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 680 | $46,340 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 560 | $59,110 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 320 | $47,270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 290 | $47,200 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 100 | $62,320 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 70 | $54,280 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 50 | $40,620 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 40 | $55,170 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a semiconductor processing technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for semiconductor processing technicians in the U.S. is $51,430 a year, or $24.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid semiconductor processing technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of semiconductor processing technicians in the U.S. earn at least $82,540 a year. The top 25% earn $65,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for semiconductor processing technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,690 a year, and a quarter of semiconductor processing technicians earn $45,640 or less.
How many semiconductor processing technicians work in the U.S.?
About 31,460 semiconductor processing technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.