Well, I have been in the industry for abt a year already.
Semiconductor industry is a tough industry and once u are in...U
can kiss all ur free time gd bye..
As the fab runs 24/7, everytime something crops up... almost
everyone will get called up especially if u are a senior engineer
and the problem occurs in ur process...
There are many different kind of positions so depending on wat post
u hold...the responsibilities differs..
Those fresh into the industry usually will be working rotating
12-hr shifts and once u are senior enough... U will revert back to
normal 8-hr shift...
As the industry is tough... Many people left the industry
completely after a few years... tat is why EDB is offering all
Final Year Graduates in NUS and NTU, specialising in
MICROELECTRONICS, a monthly scholarship of up to 1 K a mth, so as
to entice graduates to join..
Poly grads usually become engr asst while uni grads usually will
become Equipment or Process Engr... Those with Microelectronics
specialisation or with semicon background will usually become
either Process Intergration, Device or Yield Enhancement engr...
Bascially those with semicon background have more job
options...
Paywise, relative to all engineering pay, it is slightly higher but
if u compare to the financial fields, the financial fields pays way
better...
OT pay will usually be given and one can stand to earn up to 6K a
mth taking into consideration the OT hrs and the shift allowance...
That is also dependent on which fabs u are in....
Currently these are the main fabs in Spore,
1) SSMC
2) UMC
3) Chartered
4) TECH
5) STMicroelectronics
6) Hitachi Semicon
7) Qimonda (coming up)
Intel-Micron Flash (coming up)
9) Soitec (Coming up)
10) Siltronic
11) Samsung Siltronic (Coming up)
Ideally, u can join the semicon equipment vendors as Field Service
/ Applications engr... Paywise is slightly higher but more
stressful and hectic...
In short, Semicon industry is similar to the financial sector as
everyone is hopping from 1 fab to another so as to get higher
pay... and it is pretty small... Long termwise, it is a stable
industry at least for the next 10 years till all fabs shift their
manufacturing to lower cost China...
If u are solely just interesting in making money.... Join Keppel
Shipyard lah as they pay way better dur to their 10 mth bonus a
year... 
