The objective of this study was to optimize chitosan production conditions from shrimp waste using the response surface methodology corresponding to the degree of deacetylation. The influence of alkaline concentration, microwave power, time, and chitin concentration on the N-deacetylation of shrimp wastes chitin by microwave irradiation was investigated. Experimental conditions varied from 30 to 50% NaOH, 1125 to 2450 MHz, 6 to 18 min, and 4.76 to 8.30% chitin concentration. The degree of deacetylation increased significantly with increasing time, NaOH conc. microwave power, and decreasing chitin conc. response surface analysis indicated the maximal degree of deacetylation to occur at 50% NaOH, 2400 MHz, 4.76% chitin conc. and 13 min to obtain chitosan with DDA 90.2%.