The NewAmerican Frontier
Job Training for the Next Technological Age
A forward-looking blueprint for job training in the age of AI, from the front lines of technological change.
The view from the edge of the learning curve. New technologies are changing the labor market. What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
The view from the edge of the learning curve
New technologies are changing the labor market
New technologies are changing the labor market
What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
Semiconductors
Semiconductors, commonly called “chips,” are the electronic components that power modern devices. They process, store, and transmit data in everything from smartphones and cars to fighter jets and weapons systems.
Industry
Semiconductors
Arizona (AZ), US
Silicon Desert (Arizona)
TSMC's $160B+ investment, alongside 60+ supply-chain expansions since 2020, has made Greater Phoenix the center of America's semiconductor resurgence. The state is building new training in real time through partnerships with TSMC, Intel, Amkor, and a new nonprofit coordinating industry needs.
Top Jobs in Semiconductors without a BA
Priority jobs for the New American Frontier are accessible (no BA Required) and pay well (above median wages)
Source: Authors' analysis; Revelio Labs; Methodology
Semiconductors Fast Facts
$640 billion+
Invested, 140 semiconductor ecosystem projects in the US over 5 years
70K
52,846
associate's degrees at 4,184 institutions
240,919
certificates at 6,538 institutions
Awarded in semiconductor-relevant fields (electronics, processing, maintenance technology) in the U.S. in 2024
31%
Roles accessible without a BA
$39,000–$99,000
Typical annual pay for non-BA jobs
Source: Authors' analysis; IPEDS; Revelio Labs; SIA; Methodology
Technology Overview
Semiconductors, commonly called “chips,” are the electronic components that power modern devices. They process, store, and transmit data in everything from smartphones and cars to fighter jets and weapons systems.
Technology Use Cases
Chips are classified by node size (technology generation) and function.
Technology generation
Advanced chips
Power AI, blockchain, and computing-intensive uses. Only a few companies worldwide can produce the most advanced (“leading-edge”) chips today.
Mature chips
Power automobiles and consumer products, representing the bulk of global semiconductor demand.
Function
Logic chips
Process information: the computing power behind smartphones, AI systems, and connected devices.
Memory chips
Store data for electronics and data centers.
Analog chips
Detect real world changes (temperature, pressure) and convert to digital signals. Common in communications, automotive, and industrial applications.
Economic and National Security Implications
Economic competitiveness
Global sales projected to grow to nearly $1 trillion by 2026. Products powered by semiconductors represent more than 12% of US GDP. The US has 85% market share in chip design but makes up only 10% of global chip manufacturing capacity.
National security implications
The US imports over 40% of its logic chips from Taiwan. A military conflict between China and Taiwan would severely impact the global semiconductor supply chain. The 2021 global chip shortage showed how damaging disruption can be, with losses of $240 billion to US GDP. Semiconductors are also critical to the military; the U.S. Department of Defense spends over $2 billion per year on microelectronics.
Example Jobs without a BA
| Job title | Also known as… | What this role does | Sample skills | Common credentials | Ex. Employers | Est. Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly Technician | Manufacturing Specialist | Operate and monitor tools that assemble materials during chip production | Cleanroom and safety compliance; Materials handling | Certificate in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology | TSMC, Honeywell, Modern Industries, ASML, Intel Corporation, Honeywell Aerospace, Linde | $39,000 - $63,000 |
| Maintenance Technician | Equipment Technician; Facilities Technician; Field Support Technician | Maintain and repair key equipment used in chip manufacturing | Cleanroom and safety compliance; Equipment troubleshooting, calibration, repair; Reading schematics | Certificate in Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology; Certificate in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology; Certificate or Associates in Engineering | TSMC, NXP Semiconductors, ASM, Intel Corporation | $48,000 - $72,000 |
| Process Technician | Process Engineering Technician | Monitor and adjust how chips are made to maintain quality and yield | Process monitoring and control; Wafer quality checks; Basic troubleshooting and issue escalation | Certificate in Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology; Certificate or Associates in Engineering; Associates in Engineering Technologies | TSMC, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, ASM, Intel Corporation | $53,000 - $99,000 |
Semiconductor Education in the Desert
Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) (Arizona)
Associate in Applied Science or Certificate in Automated Industrial Technology (AIT)
Maricopa runs an Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) program which teaches electronics, circuits, motor controls, and industrial automation, core skills technicians need to keep complex machines running in modern factories. The associate’s degree (64-76 credits) prepares students for roles such as electro-mechanical, mechatronics, and robotics technicians, teaching troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of electro-mechanical, product assembly, and process control systems. MCCCD’s one- (16 credit) and two-semester (32 credit) AIT certificates prepare students for industrial engineering technician roles, covering microcomputer and information systems, troubleshooting electrical control systems, and machine operations.
MCCCD Rio Salado and Northern Arizona University (Arizona)
Semiconductor Process Technician Apprenticeship
This 12-18 month apprenticeship includes on-the-job training hours at TSMC AZ and technical instruction at Rio Salado and NAU. The pathway centers on computer-based monitoring, measurement, and quality, preparing students for Process Technician roles responsible for monitoring wafer manufacturing processes.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) (Arizona)
One-semester Manufacturing Specialist Intensive
The Manufacturing Specialist Intensive (MSI) at Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a one-semester model sponsored by TSMC. Tuition is fully funded, students get hands-on shadowing experience at TSMC AZ, and students who complete the program and pass a background check can potentially interview for full-time positions at TSMC. The curriculum prepares students for advanced manufacturing and automation work in roles such as manufacturing specialist.
Phoenix Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center (PEJATC)
Electrical Apprentice
The PEJATC prepares students to be journey level workers in the electrical industry. The four-year, state recognized curriculum provides hands-on supervised work on construction jobsites for 8,000 hours. Apprentices are assigned a full-time position through training center contractors, with first-year apprentices attending day-school, and further year apprentices working during the day and attending school during the evening weekly. Electricians support the construction of semiconductor fabs and often include working in cleanroom environments.