Prevailing Wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Prevailing wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians (SOC 51-9141) is set by DOL and determines the minimum salary a sponsor must offer on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. Whether your offer is for a Diffusion Operator, Device Processing Engineer, or Manufacturing Technician role, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level technicians with limited semiconductor fabrication experience, typically hired directly from a training program or with fewer than two years in wafer processing, furnace operation, or related cleanroom work. Employers file Level 1 for closely supervised, routine production tasks.
Technicians with practical experience across multiple process steps, such as photolithography, diffusion, or chemical vapor deposition, who work with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Semiconductor Processing Technicians and reflects standard production-line proficiency.
Experienced technicians who independently troubleshoot equipment, optimize process parameters, and may train junior staff. DOL defines this level for workers applying broad occupational knowledge with limited supervisory oversight and handling non-routine process deviations.
Senior or lead technicians with full competency across the fabrication sequence, including process engineering support, cross-functional coordination, and ownership of yield or quality metrics. Employers file Level 4 for roles with significant independent authority and minimal day-to-day supervision.
Prevailing Wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Semiconductor Processing Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing in fab filings
Roles titled 'Process Engineer' or 'MOCVD Engineer' are sometimes filed under engineering SOC codes instead of SOC 51-9141, setting a different wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC code on the LCA before accepting.
Account for Phoenix and Portland wage premiums
Phoenix and Portland rank among the highest-paying metros for this occupation, driven by concentrated semiconductor fabrication employers. If your offer is in either city, the L2 floor is significantly above the national median, so benchmark accordingly before negotiating base pay.
Exclude bonuses and RSUs from wage floor math
DOL's prevailing wage calculation for Semiconductor Processing Technicians covers base salary only. Signing bonuses, shift differentials, RSU grants, and production bonuses do not count toward meeting the floor, so verify your guaranteed annual base clears the LCA wage level.
Use Migrate Mate to find active fab sponsors
Semiconductor fabrication sponsors are concentrated among a small set of chipmakers and contract manufacturers. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Semiconductor Processing Technicians historically, so you can focus your search on companies with a real filing track record.
Jobs for Semiconductor Processing Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9141.00 alongside Semiconductor Processing Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Device Processing Engineer Prevailing Wage
Device Processing Engineer Prevailing Wage
Device Processing Engineer positions fall under SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Diffusion Operator Prevailing Wage
Diffusion Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Diffusion Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Manufacture Specialist Prevailing Wage
Manufacture Specialist Prevailing Wage
Manufacture Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Manufacturing Technician Prevailing Wage
Manufacturing Technician Prevailing Wage
Manufacturing Technician positions fall under SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineer (MOCVD Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineer (MOCVD Engineer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineer (MOCVD Engineer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Probe Operator Prevailing Wage
Probe Operator Prevailing Wage
Probe Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Process Technician Prevailing Wage
Process Technician Prevailing Wage
Process Technician positions fall under SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Wafer Fabrication Operator Prevailing Wage
Wafer Fabrication Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Wafer Fabrication Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9141.00 (Semiconductor Processing Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians?
DOL derives prevailing wages for SOC 51-9141 from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OFLC converts that survey data into four wage levels for each geographic area. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC or use the OFLC Wage Search before filing an LCA for an H-1B or green card petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision with limited experience. Level 2 reflects qualified technicians with practical process knowledge and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced workers handling complex or non-routine tasks independently. Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior technicians with broad authority. The level on your LCA should match your actual duties and years of relevant experience, not just your job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC sets wages using regional OES surveys, so the prevailing wage reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, and cities with dense semiconductor fabrication activity, such as Phoenix or Portland, show higher floors because local employers compete for a specialized talent pool. A position in Dallas will carry a materially lower floor than an equivalent role in Phoenix.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the OFLC-determined prevailing wage for the relevant level and worksite. If the offered salary is below the floor, USCIS will not approve the H-1B petition, and PERM-based green card cases cannot proceed. The employer must either raise the offered wage to at least the prevailing wage level or file under the correct, lower wage level if the duties genuinely support it.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search and enter SOC code 51-9141 along with the worksite metropolitan area. The tool returns all four wage levels for that location. You can also check O*NET for occupational context and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for broader regional wage benchmarks. For finding employers that have sponsored this role before, Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer so you can identify active filers in your target market.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Semiconductor Processing Technicians right now.
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