---

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Types of Degrees Semiconductor Manufacturing Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Semiconductor Manufacturing may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	13
Master’s Degree	3

What Semiconductor Manufacturing Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Semiconductor Manufacturing build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Semiconductor Manufacturing emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Production and Processing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Public Safety and Security — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Semiconductor Manufacturing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Semiconductor Manufacturing careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.1 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.0 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7
Working with Computers	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Semiconductor Manufacturing professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Camstar Systems Camstar Semiconductor Suite	Industrial control software	—
National Instruments TestStand	Development environment software	—
yieldWerx	Analytical or scientific software	—
Eyelit Manufacturing	Industrial control software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates include:

• Wafer Production Worker
• Lap Machine Tender
• Semiconductor Engineer
• Small Group Level Processor
• Semiconductor Wafers Diffusion Furnace Operator
• Semiconductor Technician
• Semiconductor Wafers Marker
• Semiconductor Wafers Etch Operator
• Die Attacher
• Epitaxial Reactor Technician
• Crystal Growing Technician
• Probe Operator
• Crystal Finisher
• Wafer Polishing Worker
• Sanding Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	83.8%
Less than a high school diploma	11.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.3%
Postsecondary certificate	1.3%
Some college courses	0.5%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%
Bachelor’s degree	0.1%
Master’s degree	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Semiconductor Manufacturing?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 93.7% of Semiconductor Manufacturing degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	1	6.2%
Men	15	93.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	12	75.0%
Asian	1	6.2%
Hispanic or Latino	1	6.2%
International Students	2	12.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Semiconductor Manufacturing Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$59,570
4 years	$66,536
5 years	$74,003

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $74,003 — roughly 24% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Semiconductor Manufacturing Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Semiconductor Manufacturing graduates earn a median of $66,536 four years after completion — roughly 75% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	15.06
Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0615
Composite Materials Technology/Technician	15.0617
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other	15.0699
Industrial Technology/Technician	15.0612
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0613
Metallurgical Technology/Technician	15.0611
Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0607
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0614
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician	15.0406
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician	15.1201
Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician	15.1202

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.