SkyWater's Purdue campus fab is the first semiconductor fab built at a U.S. university in decades. It is specifically designed as an accessible entry point — SkyWater has committed to hiring workers with two-year degrees and industry certifications, making Indiana's chip manufacturing careers reachable for workers without four-year credentials.
Purdue University's top-10-ranked semiconductor engineering program and its $100 million industry partnership with SkyWater ensure Indiana has a continuously growing and well-trained talent supply. The state's 44 community colleges and technical institutes also offer chip manufacturing credentials aligned to employer needs.
Indiana's cost of living ranks among the 10 lowest in the nation, and semiconductor and advanced manufacturing wages in the state average $62,000–$85,000. The combination means Indiana chip workers achieve purchasing power that exceeds counterparts earning 20–30% more in California, Texas, or New York.
