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The differences between semiconductor engineers and manufacturing 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 manufacturing engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $78,522 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a manufacturing engineer are lean manufacturing, CAD, and solidworks.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $78,522 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $37.75 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 115,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
Semiconductor engineers and manufacturing engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $78,522 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a manufacturing engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and manufacturing engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |