Occupation Summary

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

O*NET 51-9141.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$37,001.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 28.61%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Manipulate valves, switches, and buttons, or key commands into control panels to start semiconductor processing cycles.
  2. Maintain processing, production, and inspection information and reports.
  3. Inspect materials, components, or products for surface defects and measure circuitry, using electronic test equipment, precision measuring instruments, microscope, and standard procedures.
  4. Clean semiconductor wafers using cleaning equipment, such as chemical baths, automatic wafer cleaners, or blow-off wands.
  5. Study work orders, instructions, formulas, and processing charts to determine specifications and sequence of operations.
  6. Load and unload equipment chambers and transport finished product to storage or to area for further processing.
  7. Clean and maintain equipment, including replacing etching and rinsing solutions and cleaning bath containers and work area.
  8. Place semiconductor wafers in processing containers or equipment holders, using vacuum wand or tweezers.
  9. Set, adjust, and readjust computerized or mechanical equipment controls to regulate power level, temperature, vacuum, and rotation speed of furnace, according to crystal growing specifications.
  10. Etch, lap, polish, or grind wafers or ingots to form circuitry and change conductive properties, using etching, lapping, polishing, or grinding equipment.
  11. Load semiconductor material into furnace.
  12. Monitor operation and adjust controls of processing machines and equipment to produce compositions with specific electronic properties, using computer terminals.
  13. Count, sort, and weigh processed items.
  14. Calculate etching time based on thickness of material to be removed from wafers or crystals.
  15. Inspect equipment for leaks, diagnose malfunctions, and request repairs.
  16. Align photo mask pattern on photoresist layer, expose pattern to ultraviolet light, and develop pattern, using specialized equipment.
  17. Stamp, etch, or scribe identifying information on finished component according to specifications.
  18. Scribe or separate wafers into dice.
  19. Connect reactor to computer, using hand tools and power tools.
  20. Measure and weigh amounts of crystal growing materials, mix and grind materials, load materials into container, and monitor processing procedures to help identify crystal growing problems.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Semiconductor Processing Technicians employed Annual Growth Rate
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 92.3 0.85


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $17.79
2023 National average hourly wage $23.54
2022 National employment 24,600
2022 Texas employment 3,925
Texas projected employment by 2032 5,048
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 592




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
78.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
75.60%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
68.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
67.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
65.20%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
64.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
59.40%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
57.40%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
53.40%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
48.20%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
72.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
67.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
67.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
65.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
65.00%
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
65.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
57.60%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
57.60%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
57.60%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
57.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.60%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
70.00%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
70.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
67.60%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
65.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
65.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.00%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
65.00%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
65.00%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
62.60%


  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical Activities
    -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

No certifications found.


Tools

Antistatic wrist straps: Antistatic wrist straps;

Blow torch: Gas blow torches;

Calibrated resistance measuring equipment: Surface resistivity meters;

Cleanroom certified apparel: Clean room suits;

Cleanroom ovens: Clean room ovens;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Drying cabinets or ovens: Spin rinse dryers;

Frequency analyzers: Spectrum analyzers;

Fume hoods or cupboards: Laboratory fume hoods;

Hygrometers: Digital hygrometers;

Indoor air quality monitor: Clean-room air particle analyzers;

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens: Solder reflow ovens;

Laboratory presses: Wafer arbor presses;

Laboratory vacuum pumps: Diffusion pumps;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Pneumatic vacuum generator: Vacuum wands;

Power sanders: Sanding machines;

Safety glasses: Safety eyewear;

Scanning electron microscopes: Scanning electron microscopes;

Scribers: Micro diamond scribers;

Semiconductor process systems: Atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition APCVD systems; Automatic notched wafer aligners; Automatic wafer cleaners; Chemical vapor deposition CVD systems; Diffusion furnaces; Electron beam evaporators; Epitaxial deposition equipment; Oxidation systems; Photolithography equipment; Photoresist strippers; Photostabilizers; Physical vapor deposition systems; Plasma ashers; Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition PECVD machines; Rapid thermal processors; Laser wafer markers; Lithography exposure systems; Load ports; Low pressure chemical vapor deposition LPCVD machines; Manual wet benches; Mask aligners; Ion implanters; Semiconductor etchers; Semiconductor polishers; Semiconductor processing chillers; Semiconductor test probes; Sputterers;

Semiconductor testers: Wafer mappers; Wafer probers; Wafer scanners;

Soldering iron: Soldering guns;

Sorters: Wafer sorters;

Surface testers: Surface profilers;

Three dimensional printing machine: Solder-paste printers;

Tweezers: High precision tweezers;

Ultrafiltration equipment: Slurry filter cabinets;

Vacuum ovens: Vacuum ovens;

Vacuum pumps: Vacuum pumps;

Wafer wire bonder: Die bonders;

Water analyzers: Water surface contamination analyzers;

X ray radiography examination equipment: X-ray inspection equipment;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: yieldWerx;

Data base user interface and query software: Database software;

Development environment software: National Instruments TestStand;

Industrial control software: Camstar Systems Camstar Semiconductor Suite; Eyelit Manufacturing;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


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Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about semiconductor processing technicians, visit: SEMI Careers
  • Semiconductor Industry Association
  • Semiconductor Processing Technicians

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.