Semiconductor Jobs Are Coming: Here’s Why — and How To Get One

By Sarah Hicks and Katie Gustafson

Semiconductor manufacturing in the United States is booming. Fueled by federal policy, investments in semiconductors and directly related projects have surpassed $640 billion since 2020, with new announcements rolling out every month. 

That investment has created more than 525,000 U.S. jobs, and new semiconductor plants and related facilities are going up in states from California to Vermont. Many of the jobs created will be for semiconductor technicians, a little-known career that requires training ranging from a short-term “quick-start” certificate to a two-year associate degree. 

It’s an opportunity to join an industry that shows no signs of slowing down.  

What’s driving the semiconductor jobs boom?

Semiconductors, also known as chips, are everywhere. 

They’ve been described as the foundation of modern life, as they function as the “brains” of almost all every digital application we use to conduct business, connect with others and execute daily tasks. That may sound like hyperbole, but consider that semiconductors are essential for automotive electronics, computing and data storage solutions, and wireless communication. The growth of AI and data centers is pushing the chip-making sector into overdrive, with its global value projected to reach as high as $1.1 trillion by 2030, according to a McKinsey report. 

The U.S. used to be a leader in chip manufacturing, but currently produces less than 12% of the global supply. Most of the chips we use today were manufactured overseas in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. 

Pandemic-related chip shortages, along with international tensions and concerns about national security, prompted the Biden Administration to pass the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which provided $280 billion overall for the U.S. semiconductor industry and about $52.7 billion specifically for research and manufacture of semiconductors and the workforce development needed to support them. 

The federal investment opened the door for a domestic semiconductor manufacturing boom, with companies incentivized to build more fabrication plants, or fabs, here in the U.S. However, the policy landscape continues to evolve, with the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) set to expire at the end of 2026 and a shift under the Trump Administration toward equity-stake deals instead of providing direct industry subsidies. 

Skilled semiconductor technicians needed

With the semiconductor industry in the U.S. booming, manufacturers are rushing to figure out how to create a steady supply of skilled technicians. Chip manufacturers are getting creative, partnering with community colleges and other training providers to create new pathways. 

Some semiconductor manufacturing companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor and Micron Technologies have created their own dedicated apprenticeship programs. Certificate and associate-degree programs in semiconductor technology are also gaining traction as educators and employers work together to fill the jobs pipeline.

Some high schools are incorporating chip-making into their apprenticeship programs, and community colleges are creating free or affordable short training programs to add to the pipeline of applicants quickly. For example, Maricopa Community Colleges’ Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program, which trains entry-level semiconductor technicians in just 10 days. The program is free after grant funding that is provided to in-state students who successfully complete the training and certification. 

Reskilling is another tactic workforce development groups are taking. Many of these jobs can be filled by workers in jobs with similar skill profiles. For example, technologists or technicians and operating programmable logic controllers could easily be retrained to become electrical and electronics engineering technicians, one of the most undersupplied jobs in the semiconductor industry. 

Semiconductor industry poised to make an impact

The federal and private investments in semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. will have a lasting impact. 

For educators, businesses and communities, it’s an opportunity to create a skilled workforce and drive regional growth. For individuals, it’s the possibility of a well-paying job and an entry point into an industry with amazing potential in our digital-first future. 

Sarah Hicks is an editor and writer with expertise in workforce training, sustainability and science.

Katherine Gustafson is a freelance writer specializing in content for mission-driven changemakers such as tech disruptors in fintech, healthcare IT and B2B SaaS.