Most people know that computers and other modern machines have tiny pieces that fit together to help create something amazing. With computers and other electronics, people can make detailed calculations, build objects of all sizes, and talk to people on the other side of the world. Micro-electronics manufactures help make that happen.

As the name says, the field of micro-electronics is all about working with very small objects. People in this job might work with making the parts of a home computer or a machine that puts cars together, but they all work in the area of micro-electronics. This job is a sub-field in the trade of electronics manufacturing.

As in other trades, people generally need at least a high school education or the equivalent. Apprenticeships are useful for teaching the basics and giving people the knowledge and experience they need to do the job. At the end of this two-year apprenticeship, people can receive a certificate if they wish. An alternative is to complete four thousand hours of work experience to be certified as a journeyperson in micro-electronics manufacturing. This is not a Red Seal trade.

Working in micro-electronics requires an ability to handle very small objects in very large machines. Delicate handling is necessary for many of the parts, since they can easily be damaged. The machines that produce micro-electronics can be noisy, and factories can be dirty. People in this job need to be prepared for oil and dust, as well as possibly cutting themselves on the machines or on the bits of metal that come from the manufacturing process.

Jobs in micro-electronics are likely to be more plentiful in large cities than in smaller towns, but sometimes they are available in unexpected places. In Canada, a good place to try is the Kitchener-Waterloo area in Ontario. Many computer technology companies are located there, and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology is based at one of the universities in the region. Still, manufacturing jobs in this field are available in many other areas of the country, as well.

Work in this trade can be quite well paid. Salaries start at about $40,000 per year and can rise to about $80,000. The work requires a certain amount of endurance and physical strength, but it also requires precision. People whose hands shake, for example, are unlikely to be able to do the job. As long as workers are relatively healthy and are good with their hands, they can stay for many years in this job.

One challenge in micro-electronics is that the field is always changing through new inventions and techniques. Keeping up with these changes is an essential part of the job, and micro-electronics manufacturers need to be constantly reading and learning.

If the job of micro-electronics manufacturer sounds interesting, you can already start to prepare for it. Computer courses can help you learn a bit about what goes into these machines, and shops classes where you learn about machines are useful. Learning mathematics can be good for making the calculations you might need for programming machines in the factories or for working with customers’ orders.

Working with micro-electronics manufacturing can be a good job. If you think that you have the skills for it, why not consider this trade?

Bibliography:

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. “Micro Electronics Manufacturer.” https://oyap.com/trades/?fuseaction=Profile&appnum=071.

Payscale.com. “Electronics Technologist Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Electronics_Technologist/Salary.

Payscale.com. “Microelectronic Manufacturing Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Microelectronic_Manufacturing/Salary.

Science Direct. “Microelectronics Fabrication.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/microelectronics-fabrication.

Wikipedia.org. “Microelectronics.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microelectronics.