Wafer fabricator vs semiconductor processor

The differences between wafer fabricators and semiconductor processors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a semiconductor processor has an average salary of $76,996, which is higher than the $62,984 average annual salary of a wafer fabricator.

The top three skills for a wafer fabricator include semiconductor, statistical methods and etching. The most important skills for a semiconductor processor are etching, JMP, and continuous improvement.

Wafer fabricator vs semiconductor processor overview

	Wafer Fabricator	Semiconductor Processor
Yearly salary	$62,984	$76,996
Hourly rate	$30.28	$37.02
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	1,647	6,608
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Wafer fabricator vs semiconductor processor salary

Wafer fabricators and semiconductor processors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Wafer Fabricator	Semiconductor Processor
Average salary	$62,984	$76,996
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $95,000	Between $51,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	-	Tempe, AZ
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Intel
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between wafer fabricator and semiconductor processor education

There are a few differences between a wafer fabricator and a semiconductor processor in terms of educational background:

	Wafer Fabricator	Semiconductor Processor
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Wafer fabricator vs semiconductor processor demographics

Here are the differences between wafer fabricators' and semiconductor processors' demographics:

	Wafer Fabricator	Semiconductor Processor
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 69.8% Female, 30.2%	Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 8.0% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between wafer fabricator and semiconductor processor duties and responsibilities

Wafer fabricator example responsibilities.

Perform basic routine operation in GaAs and silicon wafer fabrication environments, basic wafer etching and probe testing production processes.
Operate acid bath sinks for wafer etching ..
Train to do digital I/O and analog diagnostics.
Direct a team of over 60 wafer fab operators and 3 supervisors using 3 shifts to meet require completion dates.
Use of tweezers for small delicate chips for testing purposes to make sure chip will not be damage or contaminate.
Glass glazing/commercial aluminum window panel fabrication

Semiconductor processor example responsibilities.

Achieve L2 and L3 equipment certification in the copper polish area, performing machine maintenance and troubleshooting.
Experience with PVD, CVD, and ALD process.
Apply lean manufacturing and SPC principles to improve process capability and prevent excursions.
Sustain fab activities, maintain process specs and SPC charts for PECVD dielectric process.
Operate metal deposition, oxford, and metrology tools.
Experience in PVD, Pre-Clean, and reactive Pre-clean chamber hardware and mainframes.

Wafer fabricator vs semiconductor processor skills

Common wafer fabricator skills

Semiconductor, 14%
Statistical Methods, 12%
Etching, 10%
Silicon, 7%
DOE, 6%
Clean Room Environment, 6%

Common semiconductor processor skills

Etching, 15%
JMP, 11%
Continuous Improvement, 10%
Film Deposition, 9%
Thin Films, 8%
DOE, 8%

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Wafer Fabricator
Wafer Fabricator vs Semiconductor Processor

Updated January 8, 2025

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