Finds out why some chips on a wafer fail and works with the fab to fix the causes, raising the share of good chips made. BLS does not publish separate figures for microsystems engineers; it counts them within microsystems engineer (SOC 17-2199), whose median pay is $122,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2199
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Yield Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $122,930a year, or $59.10/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $190K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8,800166,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025166.7K
- Projected 2035173K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 166.7K Projected 2035 173K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's0.3%
- Bachelor's30.6%
- Post-bacc certificate13.1%
- Master's34.2%
- Doctorate21.8%
Highest education held by microsystems engineers Segment Value Associate's 0.3% Bachelor's 30.6% Post-bacc certificate 13.1% Master's 34.2% Doctorate 21.8%
Also advertised as: Yield Enhancement Engineer, Product Yield Engineer, Yield Analysis Engineer, Semiconductor Yield Engineer, Defect Engineer.
Pay
How much do Microsystems Engineers make?
Every yield engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$122,930
Middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090
- 10th
- $66,810
- 25th
- $90,970
- 75th
- $158,090
- 90th
- $189,950
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,810 |
| 25th | $90,970 |
| Median | $122,930 |
| 75th | $158,090 |
| 90th | $189,950 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $122,930
- Median hourly wage
- $59.10/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $125,330
- People employed
- 154,070
Versus all US occupations
At $122,930, Microsystems Engineers earn 141% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $71,950 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 18% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $189,950 or more while the bottom 10% earn $66,810, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 85% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Mexico pays the most at $162,070, and still leads at $175,758 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Microsystems Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Mexico | $162,070 | $175,758 | 2,190 |
| 2Alabama | $152,550 | $171,746 | 3,460 |
| 3District of Columbia | $151,920 | $138,234 | 3,560 |
| 4Virginia | $148,160 | $146,542 | 5,060 |
| 5Alaska | $142,390 | $139,108 | 200 |
| 6Washington | $134,570 | $125,751 | 3,580 |
| 7Colorado | $132,590 | $128,663 | 2,540 |
| 8New Jersey | $132,450 | $121,732 | 4,540 |
| 9Massachusetts | $131,260 | $124,115 | 2,850 |
| 10Idaho | $130,970 | $137,150 | 560 |
Job outlook
Is Yield Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Microsystems Engineers | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Microsystems Engineers to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 8,800 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 166,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Yield Engineer
A bachelor's or master's degree in electrical, chemical or materials engineering, physics or a related field is typical. Strong statistics and data analysis skills, including scripting in Python or SQL, are increasingly important.
New yield engineers learn fab processes and analysis tools on the job. SEMI supports training, and the CHIPS program has expanded university semiconductor programs and internships linked to new fabs. Many yield engineers move on to integration, product engineering or management. Experience with test data, defect inspection and failure analysis tools is a strong advantage.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as microsystems engineers.
- Master's Degree34.2%
- Bachelor's Degree30.6%
- Doctoral Degree21.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate13.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 34.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 30.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 13.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Yield Engineer do?
Yield engineers are detectives in a chip fab. When test results show that chips on a wafer are failing, they dig through electrical test data, defect inspection maps, tool histories and process records to find the cause. They look for patterns, such as failures clustered on one edge of a wafer or tied to one tool.
Once they find the likely cause, they work with process and equipment engineers to fix it, then track whether yield improves. Yield engineers use statistics and data tools heavily and also run failure analysis to see physical defects under electron microscopes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze wafer test data to find failure patterns
- Correlate yield loss with tools, lots and process steps
- Review defect inspection maps
- Request and review failure analysis on failing chips
- Work with process teams to fix root causes
- Track yield trends and report to management
- Build data tools and dashboards for yield monitoring
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Yield engineers work mostly at desks analyzing data, with trips into the cleanroom and failure analysis labs. They support fabs that run around the clock and may share on-call duty. Hours are usually regular with pressure during new product ramps. Much of the work can be done from an office next to the fab, with frequent meetings across process, design and test teams.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Science3.6
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Learning3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Science | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.5
- Time Management3.5
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Yield Engineer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICR) built on O*NET's Microsystems Engineer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Yield Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.2
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional5.1
- Artistic1.9
- Social1.6
- Enterprising1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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$130,220median a year
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+3.7%Bachelor's
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with microsystems engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Yield Engineer$122,930
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Yield Engineer | $122,930 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Yield Engineer appears on
Questions
Yield Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Microsystems Engineers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for microsystems engineers. It counts them within microsystems engineer, whose median pay is $122,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $90,970 and $158,090, and the top 10% earn $189,950 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Yield Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Microsystems Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 34.2% hold master's degree.
Is Yield Engineer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 8,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Yield Engineer do?
Yield engineers are detectives in a chip fab. A typical task: analyze wafer test data to find failure patterns. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Microsystems Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Microsystems Engineers are New Mexico ($162,070), Alabama ($152,550), District of Columbia ($151,920) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Yield Engineer?
O*NET scores Microsystems Engineers highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.