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Semiconductor Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Semiconductor Engineering make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Semiconductor Engineering in the United States is $83,525 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Semiconductor Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,989
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,986 to $91,096
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,213
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Semiconductor Engineering Salaries

A Semiconductor Engineering's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Semiconductor Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Semiconductor Engineering's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $85,303
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,621
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,126
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,836
  • Expert (over 8 years): $165,690
Levels Salary
Semicondu... Level Semiconductor Engineering$85,303
Electrica... Level Semiconductor Engineering$98,621
Electrica... Level Semiconductor Engineering$123,126
Electrica... Level Semiconductor Engineering$142,836
Electrica... Level Semiconductor Engineering$165,690
View as Graph

How Do Semiconductor Engineering Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Semiconductor Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $92,478.
  • California: $92,128.
  • Massachusetts: $90,900.

Top Paying Cities for Semiconductor Engineerings

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $105,349
  • San Francisco: $104,196
  • Oakland: $102,000

What Skills Can Increase a Semiconductor Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.91%
Design Engineering 3.02%
Programming 1.59%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Semiconductor Engineering's salary.

  • Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Facilitation $101,065
21%
Circuit Design $87,701
5%
Prototyping $86,865
4%
Get Latest Data

Semiconductor Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Semiconductor Engineering roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Semiconductor Engineering positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Semiconductor Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Semiconductor Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$100,229$48.020%
Pharmaceuticals$100,229$48.020%
Biotechnology$96,053$46.015%
Software & Networking$96,053$46.015%
Energy & Utilities$91,877$44.010%

How Education impacts a Semiconductor Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Semiconductor Engineerings enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Semiconductor Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between $78,469 and $81,318).

Semiconductor Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Semiconductor Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.8%
Associates 3.2%
Bachelors 64.6%
Masters 26.1%
Doctorate 4.2%
View as Graph

Semiconductor Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Semiconductor Engineering's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$74,986
Average $83,525/year
$91,096
$6,249
Average $6,960/month
$7,591
$1,442
Average $1,606/week
$1,752
$36
Average $40/hour
$44
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $91,096 $7,591 $1,752 $44
Average $83,525 $6,960 $1,606 $40
25th Percentile $74,986 $6,249 $1,442 $36

Most common benefits for Semiconductor Engineering

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Semiconductor Engineering

Here are companies hiring for Semiconductor Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Semiconductor Engineering

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Semiconductor Engineering?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Semiconductor Engineering roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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