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The semiconductor engineering field presents lucrative opportunities for professionals in the industry. The average annual salary for a semiconductor engineer is $96,951, with variations based on factors like experience and location. Entry-level positions may offer salaries around $75,000, while experienced engineers can earn over $115,000 annually.
In states like California, semiconductor engineers earn some of the highest salaries, influenced by the density of tech companies in Silicon Valley. Conversely, states with fewer tech hubs may offer lower compensation.
Additional benefits often accompany these roles, including health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses, which can significantly enhance overall earnings. As the demand for semiconductor technology continues to rise, professionals in this field can expect growth in compensation and job opportunities.
Beyond salary, semiconductor engineers can pursue various specializations such as design, testing, and manufacturing. Networking and continuous education are crucial for career advancement in this dynamic field. Engaging in professional organizations can also provide valuable resources for career development.
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The highest-paying states for semiconductor engineers are Washington, California, and New Jersey. The lowest average semiconductor engineer salary states are Florida, Kansas, and Vermont.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $137,977 | $66.34 |
| 2 | California | $119,134 | $57.28 |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,961 | $49.02 |
| 4 | Idaho | $104,136 | $50.07 |
| 5 | Nevada | $104,526 | $50.25 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $109,368 | $52.58 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $111,188 | $53.46 |
| 8 | Utah | $97,911 | $47.07 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $100,205 | $48.18 |
| 10 | Georgia | $101,565 | $48.83 |
| 11 | Arizona | $96,517 | $46.40 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $105,801 | $50.87 |
| 13 | Montana | $103,290 | $49.66 |
| 14 | Virginia | $94,164 | $45.27 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $93,340 | $44.88 |
| 16 | Colorado | $94,499 | $45.43 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $95,581 | $45.95 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $97,690 | $46.97 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $94,511 | $45.44 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $94,205 | $45.29 |
| 21 | Delaware | $89,874 | $43.21 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $89,479 | $43.02 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $87,774 | $42.20 |
| 24 | Alaska | $96,246 | $46.27 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $88,983 | $42.78 |
| 26 | New York | $92,035 | $44.25 |
| 27 | Missouri | $92,017 | $44.24 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $89,143 | $42.86 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $89,148 | $42.86 |
| 30 | Maryland | $89,050 | $42.81 |
| 31 | Texas | $87,454 | $42.05 |
| 32 | Alabama | $86,017 | $41.35 |
| 33 | Oregon | $86,766 | $41.71 |
| 34 | Ohio | $84,707 | $40.72 |
| 35 | Illinois | $88,803 | $42.69 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $87,842 | $42.23 |
| 37 | Maine | $87,917 | $42.27 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $84,256 | $40.51 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $83,277 | $40.04 |
| 40 | Indiana | $78,099 | $37.55 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $84,844 | $40.79 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $79,232 | $38.09 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $76,255 | $36.66 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $80,004 | $38.46 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $81,352 | $39.11 |
| 46 | Florida | $77,982 | $37.49 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $82,590 | $39.71 |
| 48 | Vermont | $77,162 | $37.10 |
| 49 | Kansas | $77,747 | $37.38 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $75,289 | $36.20 |
| 51 | Iowa | $73,549 | $35.36 |
The highest-paying cities for semiconductor engineers are Bothell, WA, Santa Clara, CA, and Rio Rancho, NM.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothell, WA | $138,562 | $66.62 |
| 2 | Santa Clara, CA | $128,364 | $61.71 |
| 3 | Rio Rancho, NM | $106,485 | $51.19 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $102,225 | $49.15 |
| 5 | Medford, MA | $100,075 | $48.11 |
| 6 | Tempe, AZ | $96,520 | $46.40 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $94,409 | $45.39 |
| 8 | Plymouth, MN | $93,388 | $44.90 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $92,225 | $44.34 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $89,101 | $42.84 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $87,692 | $42.16 |
| 12 | Clearwater, FL | $79,148 | $38.05 |
| 13 | Greensboro, NC | $76,180 | $36.63 |
A semiconductor engineer's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $134,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 | $9,583 | $55 |
| Average | $96,951 | $8,079 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
The highest paying types of semiconductor engineers are senior staff engineer, senior process engineer, and senior quality engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Engineer | $100,169 | $8,347 | $48.16 | 187,910 |
| Process Engineer | $82,443 | $6,870 | $39.64 | 66,937 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Packaging Engineer | $88,452 | $7,371 | $42.52 | 54,028 |
| Planning Engineer | $82,521 | $6,877 | $39.67 | 56,792 |
| Quality Engineer | $79,672 | $6,639 | $38.30 | 96,838 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for semiconductor engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring semiconductor engineers now:
Semiconductor engineer salaries at Applied Materials and Broadcom are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average semiconductor engineer salary at companies like Texas Instruments and Booz Allen Hamilton are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applied Materials | $115,444 | $55.50 |
| 2 | Broadcom | $114,108 | $54.86 |
| 3 | Texas Instruments | $109,806 | $52.79 |
| 4 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $103,455 | $49.74 |
| 5 | Canon | $102,170 | $49.12 |
| 6 | Ford Motor | $101,528 | $48.81 |
| 7 | Precision Inc | $100,099 | $48.12 |
| 8 | PDS Tech | $100,018 | $48.09 |
| 9 | Honeywell | $99,791 | $47.98 |
| 10 | Westerwood | $99,230 | $47.71 |
| 11 | Kforce | $99,160 | $47.67 |
| 12 | Oclaro | $96,861 | $46.57 |
| 13 | Qorvo | $96,656 | $46.47 |
| 14 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $85,489 | $41.10 |
| 15 | Science Systems and Applications | $84,771 | $40.76 |
| 16 | Northrop Grumman | $83,941 | $40.36 |
The average semiconductor engineer salary has risen by $12,764 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average semiconductor engineer earned $84,187 annually, but today, they earn $96,951 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for semiconductor engineers over the last decade.
Compare semiconductor engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare semiconductor engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $97,000 | $46.61 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $95,900 | $46.12 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $94,900 | $45.61 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $93,600 | $45.00 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $91,900 | $44.18 | +1.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUFG Americas Holdings | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $135,000 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Semiconductor Engineer | Irvine, CA | 06/10/2025 | $62,610 |
| Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company | Semiconductor Engineering Technician/ | Austin, TX | 05/30/2025 | $45,914 |
| MUFG Americas Holdings | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | San Francisco, CA | 05/27/2025 | $135,000 |
| Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company | Graveyard Shift Semiconductor Engineering Process Technician | Santa Clara, CA | 05/26/2025 | $66,784 |
| MUFG Bank | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | San Francisco, CA | 05/25/2025 | $135,000 |
| Manpowergroup | Semiconductor EHS Engineer | Roseville, CA | 05/24/2025 | $140,000 |
| MUFG | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | New York, NY | 05/24/2025 | $135,000 |
| MUFG (DBA | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | San Francisco, CA | 05/24/2025 | $135,000 |
| MUFG (DBA | Gcib-TMT Corporate Banking, Global Relationship Management-Semiconductors & Electronics | New York, NY | 05/24/2025 | $135,000 |
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