Process Engineering Technician
I4-03I4 Semiconductor fab manufacturing · Skilled level · O*NET 17-3026.01
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $62,020
- work over
40 h a week - 35%
- load index
from O*NET data - 1.7/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +10.6%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (2)
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level II $63,000 · Level III $160,000 · Level IV $80,000 (5 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Research Specialist I $40,918 to $61,130 · Research Specialist II $45,521 to $71,055 · Research Specialist III $51,158 to $81,351 · Research Specialist IV $57,614 to $93,138 · Research Specialist V $65,104 to $106,634 · Research Specialist VI $76,530 to $129,430 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3026), Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017302613 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,060 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017302601).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017302613 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,060 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017302601).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +10.6% jobs · about 500 openings a year (5,090 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +1.7% jobs · about 6,300 openings a year (74,600 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 20 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 20 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 80% · irregular 20% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 1.7 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.72, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.76, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.72, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.76, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing2.6
- Walking or running2.05
- Bending or twisting1.58
- Kneeling or crawling1.55
- Keeping balance1.32
- Climbing ladders1.25
Exposure
- Hazardous conditions3.1
- Protective gear1.95
- Cramped space1.75
- Hazardous equipment1.7
- Very hot or cold1.6
- High places1.15
- Outdoors, all weather1.1
Getting in
- License
- No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
- Degree
- 90% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Doctoral Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (25% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior). Rung 3 of 6 on 'Semiconductor fab manufacturing'.
Next stop I4 MEMS Engineer
Gates checked: Most people in both jobs hold a bachelor's or higher (O*NET: 100%). Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
Moves to the side 7
- I Nanotechnology Engineer O*NET lists Nanosystems Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89. License: depends on the work.
- I Mechanical Engineering Technician O*NET lists Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86.
- I Robotic Technician O*NET lists Robotics Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83. License: depends on the work.
- I Industrial Engineering Technician O*NET lists Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.
- Produce images or measurements, using tools or techniques such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, particle size analysis, or zeta potential analysis.
- Maintain accurate record or batch-record documentation of nanoproduction.
- Calibrate nanotechnology equipment, such as weighing, testing, or production equipment.
- Maintain work area according to cleanroom or other processing standards.
- Repair nanotechnology processing or testing equipment or submit work orders for equipment repair.
- Collaborate with scientists or engineers to design or conduct experiments for the development of nanotechnology materials, components, devices, or systems.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Science
- Operations Monitoring
- Systems Analysis
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000017302613, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 17-3026.01 Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
