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The differences between semiconductor engineers and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a semiconductor engineer, becoming a development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $93,206 average annual salary of a development engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a development engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $93,206 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $44.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 224,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
As a semiconductor engineer, your main job is to make semiconductors that are mostly made out of silicon. You have to create electrical products that enable the integration of workers, materials, and machines. Semiconductor engineers increase the efficiency of these semiconductors and develop new technologies for creating semiconductors for electric circuitry.
A Development Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of products, systems, and components. They are also responsible for quality control of work and continuous improvement of engineer activities.
Semiconductor engineers and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $93,206 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $70,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and development engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |