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The differences between semiconductor engineers and production 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 production engineer. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $89,727 average annual salary of a production engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Semiconductor engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| 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, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |