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The differences between semiconductor engineers and packaging engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a semiconductor engineer and a packaging engineer. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $88,452 average annual salary of a packaging engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a packaging engineer are CAD, project management, and solidworks.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Packaging Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $88,452 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $42.52 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 54,028 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.
Semiconductor engineers and packaging engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Packaging Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $88,452 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $65,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a packaging engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Packaging Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Engineering And Industrial Management |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and packaging engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Packaging Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.1% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |