A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same that utilizes dielectric pedestals on a sensing electrode. The semiconductor device includes a one or more membranes and an integrated circuit substrate. The integrated circuit substrate includes one or more conductive components disposed within a first dielectric layer on the substrate, with the conductive components interconnected with respective integrated circuit components. The substrate further includes one or more sensing electrodes electrically coupled to the conductive components, and one or more dielectric pedestals positioned within a landing area of the sensing electrode. In addition, the semiconductor device includes at least one cavity that is formed by the membrane positioned over the sensing electrode.