95+ Aerospace Manufacturing Statistics for 2025-2026

Economic Impact and GDP Contribution

The US aerospace and defense industry is one of the most economically significant manufacturing sectors in the country. Its output spans commercial aircraft, defense systems, satellites, missiles, and everything in between. The numbers below are drawn from the Aerospace Industries Association's 2025 Facts & Figures report, which reflects 2024 calendar year data collected in partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence.

• 01 The US aerospace and defense industry generated $995 billion in total business activity in 2024, representing nearly $1 trillion in economic output. (AIA, 2025)
• 02 Of that total, $556 billion came from direct industry output and an additional $439 billion from indirect supply chain contributions. (AIA, 2025)
• 03 The industry generated $443 billion in economic value added, accounting for 1.5% of 2024 nominal US GDP. (AIA, 2025)
• 04 Total A&D business activity grew 4.2% from the prior year, despite ongoing workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions. (AIA, 2025)
• 05 The industry supported $257 billion in wages and salaries in 2024, representing nearly 2% of total US labor income. (AIA, 2025)
• 06 Every $1 million in A&D end-use sales supports four jobs across both direct manufacturing and the broader supply chain. (AIA, 2025)
• 07 US A&D exports reached $138.6 billion in 2024, up from $135.9 billion in 2023, reflecting steady global demand for US-made aircraft and defense systems. (AIA, 2025)
• 08 US A&D imports totaled $64.83 billion in 2024, yielding a trade surplus of $73.9 billion for the year. (AIA, 2025)
• 09 Aerospace and defense is the only US manufacturing sector with a net-positive trade balance, outperforming automotive, electronics, and all other major manufacturing categories. (AIA, 2025)
• 10 The global aircraft manufacturing market was valued at $423 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate well above 5% through the end of the decade. (Polaris Market Research, 2025)

Employment and Workforce

The aerospace and defense workforce is one of the most technically skilled in US manufacturing. Nearly two-thirds of direct employees work in engineering, manufacturing production, or maintenance roles. The total workforce spans the entire country, with employees in all 50 states, though the heaviest concentrations remain on the West Coast and in select industrial corridors in the South and Northeast.

• 11 The A&D industry employed more than 2.2 million workers across direct and indirect roles in 2024, covering the entire supply chain from raw material suppliers to final assembly. (AIA, 2025)
• 12 914,000 direct employees work in end-use aerospace and defense manufacturing, design, and services. (AIA, 2025)
• 13 The defense and national security sector holds a 54% share of direct A&D employment, with commercial aerospace making up the remaining 43%. (AIA, 2025)
• 14 Nearly two-thirds of direct employees work in technical fields, primarily manufacturing, engineering, and maintenance roles. (AIA, 2025)
• 15 More than 59% of direct A&D employment comes from the shared supply chain, a network composed largely of small and mid-sized manufacturers. (AIA, 2025)
• 16 A&D jobs account for 1.4% of total US employment, a share that has held steady since the post-pandemic recovery. (AIA, 2025)
• 17 The aerospace product and parts manufacturing sector (NAICS 3364) employs workers across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the heaviest concentrations in California, Washington, Texas, Arizona, and Connecticut. (AIA, 2025)
• 18 Southern California and Washington state together employ over 180,000 aerospace workers, anchored by Boeing's Renton and Everett assembly lines and Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility. (Mordor Intelligence, 2026)
• 19 Over 67% of manufacturers surveyed in the National Association of Manufacturers' Q2 2024 outlook identified "attracting and retaining a quality workforce" as their primary business challenge. (Deloitte/NAM, 2025)
• 20 The aeronautics and aircraft subsector leads all A&D categories with 468,000 direct jobs in 2024, followed by land and sea systems (178,000), the space sector (156,000), and cyber (111,000). (AIA, 2025)

Wages and Compensation by Role

Aerospace manufacturing pays above-average wages across nearly every job category. The average A&D worker earns $115,000 per year, 56% more than the US national average. Engineers and program managers sit near the top, but even production technicians and assemblers earn meaningful premiums over their counterparts in other manufacturing sectors.

• 21 The average A&D job pays $115,000 per year in total labor income, which is 56% above the US national average. (AIA, 2025)
• 22 The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,830 in May 2024. The top 10% of aerospace engineers earn more than $185,000 per year. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
• 23 Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians earned a median wage of $79,830 in May 2024, well above the national median for all occupations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
• 24 The aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry (NAICS 3364) paid an average wage of $66,010 across all production occupations in May 2024, ranking it among the highest-paying production sectors. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wages, 2024)
• 25 The A&D industry paid $257 billion in total compensation across its 2.23 million workers in 2024, making it one of the largest contributors to US household income of any manufacturing sector. (AIA, 2025)
• 26 In 2024, A&D industry wages outpaced the national average for job creation, with wages rising faster than average across the industry compared to the broader US labor market. (AIA, 2025)
• 27 The percentage of A&D industry job postings requiring data analysis skills is projected to grow from 9% in 2025 to nearly 14% by 2028, reflecting a rapid shift toward digital and data-driven roles. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 28 Demand for data science skills within A&D job postings is expected to grow from 3% of postings in 2025 to 5% by 2028, a 67% increase in just three years. (Deloitte, 2026)

Sector Breakdown: Commercial vs. Defense vs. Space

The US A&D industry is not one monolithic sector. It divides cleanly into commercial aerospace (civil aircraft, engines, and avionics), defense and national security (military aircraft, missiles, land systems, and cyber), and the fast-growing commercial space segment. Each has its own hiring profile, procurement cycle, and growth trajectory.

• 29 The aeronautics and aircraft subsector is the largest employer in A&D with 468,000 direct jobs, covering commercial and military aircraft design, manufacturing, and assembly. (AIA, 2025)
• 30 Defense and national security holds a 54% majority share of direct A&D employment, reflecting the sustained size of the DoD acquisition budget and long-term defense contracts. (AIA, 2025)
• 31 The space sector employs 156,000 direct workers and is growing faster than any other A&D subsector, driven by satellite manufacturing, launch services, and commercial space tourism. (AIA, 2025)
• 32 The cyber defense manufacturing and services subsector employs 111,000 workers, a figure that has grown significantly as DoD and intelligence agencies scale digital infrastructure. (AIA, 2025)

Top States for Aerospace Manufacturing

Aerospace manufacturing is geographically concentrated but nationally distributed. California leads in total economic value added, Washington leads in manufacturing employment concentration, and Texas has become an increasingly important hub for both commercial space and defense electronics. The table below reflects 2023 A&D economic value data, the most recent year of available state-level figures from AIA.

• 33 California leads all states in A&D economic value added at $70.4 billion, home to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, and dozens of other prime contractors and Tier-1 suppliers. (Site Selection Magazine / AIA, 2024)
• 34 Washington state generates $55.2 billion in A&D economic value, largely driven by Boeing's commercial aircraft production in Renton and Everett. (Site Selection Magazine / AIA, 2024)
• 35 Texas contributes $40.7 billion in A&D economic value, with a growing commercial space presence anchored by SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica. (Site Selection Magazine / AIA, 2024)
• 36 Kansas is home to the highest aerospace GDP contribution per capita among all states with significant general aviation output, driven by Wichita's dense cluster of aircraft manufacturers. (GAMA / PwC, 2025)
• 37 Alabama has attracted major investment with Airbus operating a Final Assembly Line in Mobile, making it the only location in the Americas where Airbus assembles commercial aircraft. (Business Facilities, 2024)

Commercial Aviation and Aircraft Manufacturing

Commercial aircraft manufacturing is the most visible part of the aerospace industry. Boeing and Airbus together control most of the large commercial jet market, but hundreds of suppliers feed their assembly lines. Production rates are still recovering from the combination of the 737 MAX grounding, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing supply chain bottlenecks that have stretched backlogs to historic levels.

• 38 The global commercial aircraft backlog stood at an estimated 5,352 aircraft as of end-2024, compared to current annual delivery capacity of roughly 2,100 units, meaning the backlog represents more than two years of full production. (IATA, 2025)
• 39 Boeing delivered 130 commercial aircraft in Q1 2025 and maintains a 737 MAX production ceiling of 38 units per month pending FAA clearance for further rate increases. (Mordor Intelligence, 2025)
• 40 OEM commercial aircraft deliveries are forecasted to rise 23% over the next several years as production rates normalize, though labor constraints and quality issues remain key risks. (Accenture, 2025)
• 41 Global commercial aftermarket MRO demand is projected to grow at a 3.2% CAGR from 2026 to 2035, with engine MRO expected to grow faster than all other maintenance categories. (Deloitte / Aviation Week, 2026)
• 42 Engines are projected to account for 53% of total commercial MRO demand by 2035, reflecting higher utilization rates and extended service life requirements on older fleets. (Deloitte / Aviation Week, 2026)
• 43 The global aircraft manufacturing market was valued at $423 billion in 2024, with the US accounting for the largest share by far through Boeing and a deep Tier-1 and Tier-2 supplier base. (Polaris Market Research, 2025)
• 44 The global aerospace manufacturing market as a whole was valued at $780 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $1.25 trillion by 2033, a CAGR of 6.1%. (OpenPR, 2026)

Defense Manufacturing and Procurement

Defense manufacturing is the backbone of the US A&D sector. The Department of Defense is the single largest customer in the world for advanced manufactured goods, and its procurement budget drives production at hundreds of prime contractors and thousands of sub-tier suppliers across the country.

• 45 The DoD's FY2025 budget request for acquisition totaled $311 billion, including $168 billion for procurement of weapons systems and $143 billion for R&D and testing. (Congressional Budget Office, 2024)
• 46 The Department of the Air Force, including Space Force, received the largest DoD service allocation at $301.1 billion, or 35.4% of total DoD spending in FY2025. (The World Data / DoD, 2025)
• 47 The total FY2025 DoD budget request stood at $849.8 billion, one of the largest peacetime defense budgets in US history, with major procurement contracts for fighter jets, submarines, and missile systems. (Wikipedia / DoD, 2025)
• 48 Defense and national security holds a 54% share of A&D direct employment, making it the dominant driver of the industry's total workforce. (AIA, 2025)
• 49 The DoD has awarded contracts to four leading US AI companies to accelerate AI adoption across critical mission areas, with AI integration affecting supply chains, logistics, and manufacturing processes at prime contractors. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 50 US A&D exports, which consist largely of defense equipment sold to allied nations, reached $138.6 billion in 2024, providing a substantial positive contribution to the US trade balance. (AIA, 2025)

Space Sector Manufacturing

The space manufacturing sector has undergone a dramatic structural shift in the past decade. Government contracts still anchor the industry, but commercial revenues now account for the majority of total space activity. SpaceX alone generated an estimated $13.1 billion in revenue in 2024 and $15.5 billion in 2025. The frequency of orbital launches has also hit record levels.

• 51 The global space economy reached a record $613 billion in 2024, according to the Space Foundation's 2025 Q2 report, nearly double the total from a decade prior. (Space Foundation, 2025)
• 52 Commercial revenues now account for nearly 80% of total space industry activity as of mid-2024, a fundamental shift from the government-dominated structure of earlier decades. (PwC / Space Foundation, 2024)
• 53 SpaceX generated an estimated $13.1 billion in revenue in 2024 and approximately $15.5 billion in 2025, an 18% year-over-year increase, driven by Starlink subscriptions and launch services. (Sacra, 2025)
• 54 SpaceX accounted for 81 orbital launches in the first half of 2025, an average of one launch every 28 hours, a pace faster than any full-year record set previously. (Space Foundation, 2025)
• 55 The A&D industry's space sector employed 156,000 direct workers in 2024, making it the third-largest A&D subsector by direct employment behind aeronautics and land/sea systems. (AIA, 2025)
• 56 The US Space Force's FY2025 Strategic Action Plan prioritizes enterprise-wide data and AI governance, rapid adoption of analytics technology, and deeper government-industry-academia partnerships. (Deloitte, 2026)

R&D, Innovation, and Technology

Aerospace manufacturers invest more in research and development than any other US manufacturing sector. That investment spans materials science, propulsion, avionics, autonomous systems, and increasingly artificial intelligence. The industry also holds more patents per dollar of revenue than most other sectors.

• 57 Aerospace manufacturers spent $35.4 billion on R&D in 2022, ranking the sector first among all US manufacturing industries in absolute R&D investment, according to National Science Foundation data. (AIA / NSF, 2025)
• 58 The aerospace industry holds over 56,000 active patents, underscoring its position at the frontier of materials, propulsion, avionics, and autonomous systems innovation. (StartUs Insights, 2024)
• 59 The aerospace sector has received over 2,500 research grants, reflecting substantial government investment in dual-use technologies that bridge civilian and military applications. (StartUs Insights, 2024)
• 60 US A&D spending on AI and generative AI is projected to reach $5.8 billion by 2029, which is 3.5 times higher than 2025 AI spending levels. (IDC / Deloitte, 2026)
• 61 An estimated 36% of tasks in industrial products manufacturing, including aerospace, could benefit from augmenting human capabilities with agentic AI, according to Deloitte's 2026 manufacturing outlook. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 62 Aerospace companies are deploying AI for defect detection, automated inspection, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimization, though full-scale industrialization across most manufacturers is still several years away. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 63 By 2026, agentic AI is expected to progress from pilot programs to scaled deployments in A&D, with the most visible applications in procurement, logistics, maintenance, and administrative functions. (Deloitte, 2026)

Supply Chain Challenges

The aerospace supply chain remains under significant stress. Demand for commercial aircraft has rebounded sharply from the pandemic lows, but production capacity has not kept pace. Raw material lead times, labor shortages at Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers, and ongoing quality issues at major OEMs are all contributing to backlogs that are not expected to clear for years.

• 64 Almost two-thirds of aerospace companies (64%) reported active supply chain disruptions in 2025, only a two-percentage-point improvement from the 66% that reported disruptions in 2024. (Roland Berger, 2025)
• 65 The primary causes of disruption are increased lead times and limited raw material availability, both of which are structural rather than cyclical, meaning they will persist for years without deliberate investment. (Roland Berger, 2025)
• 66 More than 59% of direct A&D employment comes from the supply chain, a network of thousands of small and mid-sized manufacturers. The health of these Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers determines whether OEM production targets are achievable. (AIA, 2025)
• 67 US A&D companies are increasingly pursuing supply chain consolidation and domestic sourcing strategies to reduce uncertainty, while international customers are pushing for multi-country manufacturing networks to ensure resilience. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 68 Vertical integration, expanded local footprints, multi-country manufacturing, and long-dated supply contracts are the top structural strategies A&D companies are using to address supply chain visibility, compliance, and counterfeit parts risks. (Deloitte, 2026)
• 69 The global aerospace supply chain backlog overhang was estimated at 5,352 aircraft as of end-2024. At current delivery rates of approximately 2,100 aircraft per year, the industry would need more than two years just to clear existing orders without taking any new ones. (IATA, 2025)

Workforce Outlook and Job Growth

Aerospace and defense is adding jobs at a pace well above the US manufacturing average, but the pipeline of qualified workers is struggling to keep up. Engineers, technicians, machinists, and pilots are all in tight supply. The industry is facing a structural demographic challenge: a large share of current workers are nearing retirement age, and the skills required for modern aerospace manufacturing are increasingly difficult to find.

• 70 Aerospace engineers are projected to see employment grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, driven by demand in military aircraft, space vehicles, and next-generation propulsion. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
• 71 Employment of aerospace engineering and operations technicians is projected to grow 8% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, as manufacturers scale production and increase quality control requirements. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
• 72 Boeing's Pilot Technician Outlook estimates that North America alone will require 127,000 new pilots by 2042, reflecting a structural shortage that is reshaping hiring pipelines across commercial airlines and flight training programs. (Boeing Pilot Technician Outlook / Pelican Flight School, 2025)
• 73 CAE's 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast projects a global demand for over 1.3 million new pilots, technicians, and cabin crew by 2036, creating urgent workforce needs across training programs, community colleges, and vocational schools. (CAE / Blue Signal Search, 2025)
• 74 Over 67% of manufacturers in the NAM Q2 2024 outlook survey cited "attracting and retaining a quality workforce" as their top business challenge, a figure that has remained elevated for three consecutive years. (Deloitte / NAM, 2025)
• 75 The share of A&D job postings requiring data analysis skills is forecast to jump from 9% in 2025 to nearly 14% by 2028, meaning manufacturers that cannot attract analytically skilled workers will fall behind in production efficiency and quality. (Deloitte, 2026)

Industry Outlook Through 2033

The fundamentals for aerospace manufacturing are strong through the end of the decade. Commercial aircraft backlogs will sustain production for years. Defense budgets are growing. The space economy is accelerating. The main risks are workforce constraints, supply chain fragility, and the pace of AI adoption, which will reshape competitive dynamics across primes and suppliers alike.

• 76 The global aerospace manufacturing market is projected to grow from $780 billion in 2025 to $1.25 trillion by 2033, a CAGR of 6.1%, driven by commercial aircraft demand, defense modernization, and commercial space growth. (OpenPR, 2026)
• 77 Commercial aerospace OEM deliveries are forecast to increase 23% over the next several years as Boeing and Airbus production rates recover, though supply chain and labor constraints could slow that timeline. (Accenture, 2025)
• 78 Global commercial aftermarket MRO is expected to grow at a 3.2% CAGR from 2026 to 2035, with engine MRO remaining the largest single category and growing faster than all others. (Deloitte / Aviation Week, 2026)
• 79 Sustainability became the number one concern for aerospace manufacturers in 2024, with 65.33% of respondents in one industry survey citing it as their major challenge, ahead of supply chain shortages at 50.7%. (Royal Aeronautical Society, 2025)
• 80 US A&D AI spending will reach $5.8 billion annually by 2029, a 3.5x increase over 2025 levels, with the most active investment in manufacturing quality, logistics, and autonomous systems. (IDC / Deloitte, 2026)
• 81 The A&D industry's commitment to advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and AI-driven workforce development is expected to sustain its position as the world's leading high-technology export sector through the remainder of the decade. (AIA, 2025)

Cite This Page

All underlying data points are sourced from the original publications listed below. When citing specific statistics, please reference the original source directly.

Sources

• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) — 2025 Facts & Figures: American Aerospace & Defense Industry Continues Economic Dominance (2024 calendar year data). aia-aerospace.org
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) — Industry Impact (AIA industry-wide statistics). aia-aerospace.org
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) — Contribution of the Aerospace Industry to the US Economy in 2023 (R&D data from NSF). aia-aerospace.org (PDF)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Aerospace Engineers (May 2024 wage data). bls.gov
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians. bls.gov
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024 (NAICS 3364 aerospace product and parts manufacturing). bls.gov
• Deloitte Insights — 2026 Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook. deloitte.com
• Deloitte Insights — 2025 Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook. deloitte.com
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) — Long-Term Implications of the 2025 Future Years Defense Program. cbo.gov
• IATA — The Global Commercial Aircraft Fleet (August 2025). iata.org
• Space Foundation — The Space Report 2025 Q2: Record $613 Billion Global Space Economy. spacefoundation.org
• PwC / Space Foundation — Next in Space 2025: Space Industry Trends. pwc.com
• Accenture — Navigating Uncertain Skies: Commercial Aerospace Insight Report (April 2025). accenture.com (PDF)
• Roland Berger — Aerospace Supply Chain Report 2025. rolandberger.com
• Sacra — SpaceX Revenue, Valuation & Funding. sacra.com
• Mordor Intelligence — US Aerospace and Defense Market Size & Share 2031. mordorintelligence.com
• Polaris Market Research — Aircraft Manufacturing Market Size: Global Report, 2034. polarismarketresearch.com
• Site Selection Magazine — Aerospace & Defense: By the Numbers (citing AIA data). siteselection.com
• StartUs Insights — Aerospace Industry Report 2024. startus-insights.com
• Royal Aeronautical Society — Aerospace Manufacturing in 2025: The Key Issues. aerosociety.com
• GAMA / PwC — Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2023. gama.aero (PDF)
• Blue Signal Search — 2025 Hiring Trends in Aerospace & Defense. bluesignal.com
• Business Facilities — Top States in Key Industries (Aerospace/Defense rankings). businessfacilities.com
• The World Data / DoD — Department of Defense Spending in US 2025. theworlddata.com
• OpenPR — Aerospace Manufacturing Market Global Report. openpr.com