SOC 51-9141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Semiconductor Processing Technicians — California
California · 5 metro areas compared
At $48,030, median pay for Semiconductor Processing Technicians in California tracks the national median of $51,430 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,030, median pay for Semiconductor Processing Technicians in California tracks the national median of $51,430 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,020 and $55,640. The lowest tenth earn under $40,550, while the highest tenth earn more than $61,030.
Employment stands at 4,650, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 20 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 11th by median wage. Oxnard leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,170. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 615th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,550 | −21.2% |
| 25th | $46,020 | −10.5% |
| Median (50th) | $48,030 | −6.6% |
| 75th | $55,640 | +8.2% |
| 90th | $61,030 | +18.7% |
| Mean | $50,420 | −2.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxnard | $55,170 | 40 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $50,820 | 2,130 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $47,200 | 290 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $46,340 | 680 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $40,770 | 1,080 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $48,030 buys what $43,388 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,388US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,030 a year, 6.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,550 to $61,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,650 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 11th of 20 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Oxnard, at $55,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Semiconductor Processing Technicians in California?
The median annual wage is $48,030, or $23.09 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $51,430, so pay in California is 6.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $61,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,550 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Oxnard, at $55,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,650 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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