Semiconductor processing technicians help make the microchips used in cars, smartphones and other everyday devices. They run and monitor the equipment in chip plants, test wafers and chips, and keep production within tight specifications. Much of the line is already automated. Keeping it running correctly is the technician's job.
The short answer: new chip plants are creating jobs. The ILO's 2025 index rates electronics engineering technicians, the closest group, at minimal exposure with a score of 0.38. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8 percent growth for semiconductor processing technicians from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 3,400 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed semiconductor technicians are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics Engineering Technicians | Minimal exposure | 0.38 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for semiconductor processing technicians, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor processing technicians | Grow 8% | About 3,400 |
The BLS expects rising demand for semiconductors, used in everything from vehicles to medical equipment, to create jobs. It adds that federal funding for new plants and expansions, and tax credits for manufacturers' equipment, are expected to spur new investment in US chip production. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Spotting defects in wafer images as a starting point.
- Flagging equipment readings that drift from normal.
- Finding procedures and drafting shift reports.
What stays with semiconductor technicians
- Quality control: the BLS says these workers make sure robotics and other automated machinery run to set parameters so chips work.
- Equipment: adjusting, cleaning and fixing tools in the cleanroom.
- Problem solving: working out why a batch failed.
- Checking AI help: automated defect calls and suggested fixes can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS notes that technicians must be able to change specifications in programmable manufacturing equipment, so computer skills matter alongside careful hands-on work. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace factory workers?, will AI replace quality control inspectors? and will AI replace engineers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for semiconductor processing technicians at $51,430 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace semiconductor technicians?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 8 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
How exposed are semiconductor technicians to AI?
The ILO rates electronics engineering technicians, the closest group, at minimal exposure with a score of 0.38.
How many openings are expected?
About 3,400 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to rising demand for chips and to federal funding and tax credits for US chip plants.