Aerospace Manufacturing Statistics 2026
Current US aerospace manufacturing statistics. How big is the aerospace industry, how many aerospace workers, top states, exports, AS9100 base, and 2026 outlook from AIA, BLS, ITA sources.
Aerospace is the largest single contributor to the US tradable-goods economy by manufactured exports, and one of the most concentrated supply chains in the country. The decisions made by a few dozen prime contractors and tier-1 suppliers shape work for thousands of smaller shops.
How big is the US aerospace industry?
Total US aerospace and defense economic output in 2023, combining direct manufacturing, supplier industries, and induced economic activity.
Commercial aircraft and parts represent roughly 55% of direct revenue, with defense and space accounting for the rest. The industry continued recovering capacity after the 2020 to 2022 disruption, with backlog exceeding 14,000 commercial aircraft between Boeing and Airbus.
How many people work in US aerospace manufacturing?
Average A&D worker annual compensation, significantly above the manufacturing average.
The premium reflects the skill requirements, the security clearances common to defense work, and the engineering-heavy mix of roles. Aerospace engineers alone number about 67,000.
Which states have the most aerospace manufacturing?
| State | Aerospace jobs | Anchors |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 85,000 | Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Spirit AeroSystems |
| California | 82,000 | Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing |
| Texas | 47,000 | Lockheed Martin, Bell, SpaceX, L3Harris |
| Florida | 42,000 | Lockheed Martin, Boeing, NASA, SpaceX, Embraer |
| Arizona | 37,000 | Raytheon, Honeywell, Boeing |
| Connecticut | 37,000 | RTX (Pratt and Whitney), Sikorsky |
| Georgia | 33,000 | Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream Aerospace |
| Kansas | 28,000 | Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation |
| Ohio | 25,000 | GE Aerospace, Cleveland-area supply base |
| Missouri | 22,000 | Boeing Defense, several supplier clusters |
How big are US aerospace exports?
US aerospace exports in 2023, the largest positive trade balance of any US manufacturing sector.
US aerospace positive trade balance after netting against imports in most recent years.
Major export destinations include Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Japan. The depth of US aerospace exports makes the supply chain unusually sensitive to trade policy, export controls, and ITAR compliance.
How many AS9100-certified companies are there?
AS9100-certified organizations globally, with about 6,000 in the United States.
AS9100, the aerospace-specific quality management standard layered on ISO 9001, has become a baseline expectation for any shop pursuing tier-1 or tier-2 work. NADCAP accreditations layer on top for specialty processes like heat treating, non-destructive testing, and special welding.
The aerospace and defense industry supports roughly 2.2 million American jobs and contributes more than $425 billion in labor income annually.
What does this mean for aerospace shops in 2026?
Three forces define the competitive picture for aerospace manufacturers in 2026. First, prime contractors are still working through backlog and need supplier capacity. Second, AI search is starting to influence preliminary sourcing. Third, ITAR registration and US-citizen workforce requirements remain non-negotiable for defense work.
Most aerospace shops still under-invest in public-facing capability content. A clean capability page that lists processes, materials, certifications, AS9100 audit cycle, NADCAP accreditations, and case studies routinely outperforms competitor pages with vague brochure copy.
Sources
- 012024 Facts and Figures: US Aerospace and Defense Aerospace Industries Association, 2024
- 02Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (NAICS 3364) US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
- 03Aerospace Industry Profile International Trade Administration, 2024
- 04AS9100 Certification Registry IAQG OASIS, 2024