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Electrical, electronic, telecommunications engineers (except communication network engineers)

How to become a Semiconductor Engineer

Also called: Semiconductor manufacturing engineer

Develops processes for making semiconductors (computer chips) or designs and develops semiconductor devices.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university or a master's degree is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but many are university or postgraduate graduates, and some engineers come from kosen (colleges of technology). Most studied mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering, but making semiconductors needs knowledge from many fields, so some have backgrounds in chemistry or physics. Almost all mid-career hires have experience in semiconductor development. After joining, you gain experience through on-the-job training and deepen your knowledge and skills in your own specialist area, but in some areas it takes about 10 years to be considered a fully skilled semiconductor engineer. As well as knowing your specialist field well, you need to keep up with the latest information on semiconductors. Semiconductors are a fiercely competitive global industry, so English skills are also needed. Both design and manufacturing need a wide range of skills and knowledge and are often done in groups or teams, so communication skills are needed too. It is important to always be interested in new information and keep improving your skills. When designing semiconductors and moving them into mass production, you also need to negotiate with and present to customers. With experience, team leaders need leadership and organisational management skills.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Semiconductor Engineer?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but many are university or postgraduate graduates, and some engineers come from kosen (colleges of technology). Most studied mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering, but making semiconductors needs knowledge from many fields, so some have backgrounds in chemistry or physics. Almost all mid-career hires have experience in semiconductor development. After joining, you gain experience through on-the-job training and deepen your knowledge and skills in your own specialist area, but in some areas it takes about 10 years to be considered a fully skilled semiconductor engineer. As well as knowing your specialist field well, you need to keep up with the latest information on semiconductors. Semiconductors are a fiercely competitive global industry, so English skills are also needed. Both design and manufacturing need a wide range of skills and knowledge and are often done in groups or teams, so communication skills are needed too. It is important to always be interested in new information and keep improving your skills. When designing semiconductors and moving them into mass production, you also need to negotiate with and present to customers. With experience, team leaders need leadership and organisational management skills.

How much does a Semiconductor Engineer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥7,039,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Electrical, electronic, telecommunications engineers (except communication network engineers), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Semiconductor Engineer?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 64% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Semiconductor Engineer?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026