Semiconductor Processing Technicians Salary
The median pay for a semiconductor processing technicians in California is $48,030/year ($23.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $45,252 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 74.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in California?
About semiconductor processing technicians
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What this looks like in California
Semiconductor processing technicians pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 75.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level semiconductor processing technicians (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Semiconductor Processing Technicians salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $55K | +15% | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $51K | +6% | 2,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $47K | -2% | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $46K | -4% | 680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $41K | -15% | 1,080 |
Compare to other states
Track semiconductor processing technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a semiconductor processing technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 75.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for semiconductor processing technicians in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new semiconductor processing technicians typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,433/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 102% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is semiconductor processing technician a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for semiconductor processing technicians?
California pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do semiconductor processing technicians make in California?
The median is $48,030 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,550, and experienced semiconductor processing technicians can clear $61,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 75.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a semiconductor processing technicians salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median semiconductor processing technicians salary is worth about $45,252 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do semiconductor processing technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.