I wanted to go into semi 2007-2009. Fortunately, I stumbled on two one very senior TSMC engineers who kind of became informal mentors to me, and they talked me off. And by the way were with Morris Chang at ITRI.

Points they told:

1. A mandatory PhD just to get at internship

2. Few years of unpaid internship needed to get a coffee porter job, before you are let anywhere close to the process

3. A postdoc is required to get a real R&D cred

4. 7-10 years in R&D sweatshop before any real promotion

5. Get very lucky

6. In 20-30 years of career, you can get to a VP level, where you can hold the company by the balls with critical knowledge. Then... and only then, you will look up to a 7 digit salary.