Aspects of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The method for fabricating the semiconductor device can include forming a stack of alternating first insulating layers and first sacrificial layers over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a staircase in the stack having a plurality of steps, with at least a first step of the staircase including a first sacrificial layer of the first sacrificial layers over a first insulating layer of the first insulating layers. Further, the method can include forming a recess in the first sacrificial layer, forming a second sacrificial layer in the recess, and replacing a portion of the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer with a conductive material that forms a contact pad.