Recently, many young friends have been asking: Is it a good choice to enter the semiconductor industry now?
Especially in the context of the intense technology competition between China and the U.S. and the rising call for domestic alternatives, the semiconductor industry has been given a halo. However, there is also another voice in the industry: “There may be short-term heat, but the long-term prospects are uncertain.”
Can one really enter this field? As a semiconductor practitioner, I would like to share some honest thoughts.
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01 The industry is hot, but the truth is complex
There is external pressure and internal support—this phrase summarizes the current environment of the semiconductor industry.
Indeed, with policy support and capital influx, semiconductors have become a hot sector. Factories and design companies are springing up everywhere, and salaries are rising sharply, especially for chip design positions, where annual salaries of 300,000 yuan for fresh graduates are not uncommon.
However, behind this, there are many hidden worries.
Many projects are blindly launched, seeking land, subsidies, and investment, while those genuinely focused on technology are scarce. The failures of projects like Wuhan Hongxin have already become public lessons. The “false prosperity” of the semiconductor industry is, to some extent, reminiscent of the photovoltaic industry a few years ago.
02 The reality of a screw-like profession
No matter if you are in design, manufacturing, or packaging, this industry is highly specialized, and everyone is like a screw on an assembly line.
This means:
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Your personal achievements heavily depend on the team and the company;
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Work content is highly segmented, making it difficult to learn across positions;
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The premise of “the older you get, the more valuable you become” is that the industry is in an upward phase, and you can continue to grow.
But the reality is that the industry has entered a labor-intensive 996 model. Overtime is the norm, shift work is common, and being on call 24 hours is not unusual. Many semiconductor professionals find their bodies drained and their lives squeezed.
More realistically, the mid-life crisis will not spare this industry. Once the industry contracts, experience may not serve as a protective charm.
03 The industry’s “ceiling” is low
The vast majority of China’s semiconductor industry still remains in the mid to lower reaches of the supply chain.
Design relies on foreign software, manufacturing relies on foreign equipment, and materials depend on imports… Once the upstream is “choked”, the downstream finds it hard to walk independently.
This also leads to:
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Thin profits, making it hard to earn money;
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Companies struggle to grow, and individuals find it hard to break through;
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The so-called “high salaries” are largely built on policies and capital, and how long they can last remains uncertain.
Ultimately, semiconductors are an industry that requires long-term investment and slow accumulation. However, our current environment prefers “quick money” and “quick projects”.
04 So, can one still enter?
If you:
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Genuinely love technology and can accept slow accumulation;
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Can endure high-intensity, repetitive work;
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See the current state of the industry and are still willing to give it a try;
Then the semiconductor industry is still a decent choice. Especially for those from “difficult majors” like materials, chemistry, and physics, the salaries and development space offered by semiconductors are still better than many traditional industries.
But if you:
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Pursue high growth and high returns;
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Hope for creative work and do not want to be a screw;
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Value work-life balance and refuse the 996 model;
Then you may need to think carefully. This industry may not provide the answers you seek.
05 In conclusion
The semiconductor industry is a typical “national strategy-driven” industry, rather than purely market-driven.
This means that its trends are not entirely determined by the market, but also depend on policies, international relations, capital attitudes, and various other factors.
In the short term, the industry will still experience a wave of heat; in the medium to long term, it will inevitably undergo reshuffling. A large number of companies will collapse, leaving only a few giants, and the industry will enter a phase of stock competition.
If you choose to enter, please be sure to:
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Prioritize companies with large platforms and stable technology;
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Keep learning and transition from execution to planning as soon as possible;
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Rationally view salaries and be wary of the risks behind bubble-like high salaries.
Ultimately, there is no absolute good or bad in career choices, only what is suitable and what is not.
I hope you remain clear-headed, see the truth, and then—make your own rational decision.
If you had a choice, would you enter the semiconductor industry? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
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