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The U.S. manufacturing sector remains a global powerhouse, shaping countless products we rely on every day. From towering skyscrapers to intricate medical devices, American manufacturers drive innovation and economic growth. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturers in the United States perform more than three-quarters of all private-sector research and development (R&D) in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.
In terms of economic output, the manufacturing sector contributed $2.9 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023 and continues to have a strong influence. This sector is also a major employer, supporting jobs for millions of Americans and creating a multitude of indirect employment opportunities in related industries.
From automobiles to electronics, American-made goods are in high demand worldwide, making the U.S. one of the top manufacturing exporters in the world.
Today we’re focusing on American manufacturing, taking a look at exclusive statistics and trends on U.S. manufacturers and examining the nation’s most powerful manufacturing companies.
MNI, compiler of the industrial business profiles that power its industrial sales and marketing platform IndustrySelect, collected information from the nation’s hundreds of thousands of manufacturers firsthand, gathering some key data points on this essential industry for 2024. Here are their findings:
• There are currently 271,325 manufacturing companies in the United States.*
• Employment in the U.S. manufacturing sector has increased 1.5% over the past year (May 2023 to May 2024)
• 5,517 U.S. manufacturers or 2% are women-owned, while 2,363 or 1% are minority-owned.
• 36,323 or 13% of manufacturing companies in the United States import raw materials
• 80,456 or 30% of U.S. manufacturing firms distribute their products internationally.
• The U.S. South accounts for the most manufacturers, encompassing 32%, followed closely by the U.S. Midwest with 31%.
*These are companies that report a Primary SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) in the 2000-3999 range.
Next, let’s take a look at the largest manufacturing sites in the United States measured by number of employees at each location.
| Company | Employees | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. | 30,000 | Everett | WA |
| Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 21,800 | Newport News | VA |
| Tesla, Inc. | 20,000 | Austin | TX |
| Intel Corp. | 19,300 | Hillsboro | OR |
| Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. | 16,400 | Fort Worth | TX |
| The Boeing Co. | 16,000 | St. Louis | MO |
| Intel Corp. | 13,000 | Chandler | AZ |
| Electric Boat Corp. | 12,000 | Groton | CT |
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. | 12,000 | Pascagoula | MS |
| The Boeing Co. | 12,000 | Renton | WA |
| BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC | 11,000 | Greer | SC |
| Dell EMC | 10,000 | Hopkinton | MA |
| Micron Technology, Inc. | 10,000 | Boise | ID |
| Northrop Grumman Aerospace International, Inc. | 10,000 | Redondo Beach | CA |
| Tesla Motors, Inc. | 10,000 | Fremont | CA |
| Honeywell Aerospace | 9,716 | Phoenix | AZ |
| Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. | 9,638 | Savannah | GA |
| RTX Corp. | 9,600 | Tucson | AZ |
| Merck & Co., Inc. | 9,500 | West Point | PA |
| Ford Motor Co., Kansas City Assembly | 9,468 | Claycomo | MO |
• Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. (Everett, WA)
A leader in the aerospace industry, Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. employs 30,000 people in Everett, WA, ranking it the largest industrial site in the U.S. Established in 1916, it boasts a massive 47 million square foot facility dedicated to manufacturing airplanes and composite airplane wings for international distribution. Boeing’s Everett Factory is one of the world's largest buildings by volume and houses the final assembly lines for the 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner wide-body jets.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (Newport News, VA)
: With 21,800 employees, this Newport News, VA-based company is the nation’s largest shipbuilder. Founded in 1886, it offers a range of services including Fleet Support and Nuclear & Environmental, and has a strong presence in modular engineering and construction for energy infrastructure. HII's Newport News Shipyard is the only place in the entire country that designs, builds, and refuels these massive nuclear-powered warships. This makes them critical to US naval power
• Tesla, Inc. (Austin, TX)
Following closely on HII’s heel is Tesla’s Austin, TX location, which is home to 20,000 employees and serves as the corporate headquarters. Since 2003, Tesla has been a leader in electric passenger car manufacturing. While the Austin factory produces the popular Model Y electric SUV at this 10 million square-foot facility, it also holds the distinction of being the birthplace of the much-anticipated (and sometimes controversial) Cybertruck. This electric pickup truck with its stainless steel exoskeleton is expected to roll off the production line here.
• Intel Corp. (Hillsboro, OR)
Intel’s Hillsboro, OR site employs 19,300 people, ranking it among the top five manufacturing plants in the U.S. Operational since 1976, the company is internationally known for its microprocessors. Its Hillsboro facility is nicknamed "Silicon Forest" due to the presence of several major chipmakers, and Intel played a pioneering role in this. Their Hillsboro site, Gordon Moore Park at Ronler Acres, is one of the largest corporate campuses in the world, and its establishment helped spark the growth of the tech industry in the region. This area is now a major hub for chip development and manufacturing.
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. (Fort Worth, TX)
This divisional headquarters in Fort Worth, TX employs 16,400 staff and focuses on military aircraft manufacturing. The location is also the birthplace of the F-35 Lightning II. This state-of-the-art, fifth-generation fighter jet is not just assembled in Fort Worth, it's actually built there from the ground up. The massive mile-long production line brings together components from international partners and transforms them into the world's most technologically advanced fighter aircraft.
• The Boeing Co. (St. Louis, MO)
The St. Louis, MO branch of The Boeing Co. employs 16,000 people and produces aircraft and missiles, operating from a 3.1 million square foot facility. Boeing's facilities in the area are involved in a wide range of aerospace projects, including military aircraft (like the F/A-18 Super Hornet), rotorcraft (like the AH-64 Apache helicopter), satellites, and even unmanned aerial vehicles (like the Phantom Eye).
• Intel Corp. (Chandler, AZ)
The Chandler, AZ location of Intel Corp. has 13,000 employees and produces microcomputer chips. Intel’s Ocotillo Campus focuses primarily on high-volume microprocessor manufacturing and is currently undergoing a massive $20 billion expansion to build two new leading-edge chip factories, making it the largest private-sector investment in Arizona history.
• Electric Boat Corp. (Groton, CT)
With 12,000 employees, Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT is among the nation’s largest shipbuilding site. A subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp., GDEB was established in Groton in 1899, making it a pioneer in submarine design and construction. They've been the primary builder of submarines for the US Navy for over 100 years. Their Groton shipyard is the company's main facility and has been central to building and maintaining the US Navy's submarine fleet since the 1930s. This includes some of the most powerful submarines in the world.
• Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. (Pascagoula, MS)
Another major shipbuilder, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS employs 12,000 people and ranks as the largest employer in the state of Mississippi. Ingalls has a rich history dating back to 1938 and has been instrumental in constructing various vessels for the US Navy and Coast Guard for over 85 years. It produces technologically advanced steel warships for various customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
• The Boeing Co. (Renton, WA)
The Renton, WA facility of The Boeing Co. employs 12,000 people and produces various 737 models. Originally built by the Navy in 1941, it has seen the production of various military aircraft before transitioning to commercial airliners. In addition to final assembly, this location focuses on parts preparation, mechanical assembly, coating, testing, and other support operations.
• BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC (Greer, SC)
BMW’s Greer, SC plant employs 11,000 people and assembles the BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, BMW X3 Sports Utility Vehicle, BMW X6 Sports Utility Vehicle from a 2.4 million square foot facility. This facility is also the global center of competence for all X models. This means Greer takes the lead role in research, development, and production of all BMW's popular X lineup of Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs), including the X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7.
• Dell EMC (Hopkinton, MA)
Dell EMC in Hopkinton, MA employs 10,000 people and has been building information and virtual infrastructures since 1998.
• Micron Technology, Inc. (Boise, ID)
Micron Technology, headquartered in Boise, ID, employs 10,000 people and products semiconductors, DRAM components, and NAND flash memory chips. Interestingly, Micron wasn't always a major player in the memory chip market. Founded in 1978 by former engineers, they struggled to secure funding due to the dominance of established chipmakers. Interestingly, it was McDonald's, along with local Idaho investors including a potato farmer, that provided crucial early financial backing. This unexpected partnership helped launch Micron on its path to becoming a world leader in memory technology.
• Northrop Grumman Aerospace International, Inc. (Rendondo Beach, CA)
With 10,000 employees, Northrop Grumman Aerospace in Redondo Beach, CA has been a key player in space defense equipment and satellites since 1979.
• Tesla Motors, Inc. (Fremont, CA)
Tesla Motors in Fremont, CA employs 10,000 people and has been manufacturing electric passenger cars since 2012 in a 5.3 million square foot facility. The Fremont Factory wasn't always Tesla's pride and joy. Originally built in 1962 by General Motors and Toyota as a joint venture known as NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.), it produced various Chevrolet and Toyota vehicles for decades. Tesla acquired the factory in 2010 after the NUMMI partnership dissolved. Through significant renovations and investments, Tesla transformed this traditional auto factory into a champion of electric vehicle production, nicknaming it "Fremont Factory" and later "Gigafactory 1."
• Honeywell Aerospace (Phoenix, AZ)
Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix, AZ employs 9,716 people and has been involved in aircraft engine production and rebuilding since 1951. Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix has a rich history of innovation. They launched the Anthem, a next-generation flight deck that revolutionizes pilot interfaces in the cockpit. They've also established an Urban Air Mobility/Unmanned Aerial Systems Greenhouse, fostering the development of new technologies for urban air transportation and drones.
• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. (Savannah, GA)
Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, GA employs 9,638 people and has been the corporate headquarters for corporate jet aircraft manufacturing since 1967, with $8.7 billion in annual sales. While Gulfstream is a major force in the private jet industry today, their journey began much humbler. Originally established in 1958 as a small aircraft modification company called Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, they focused on upgrading military aircraft. However, they saw an opportunity in the business jet market and shifted their focus in the 1960s. Through strategic acquisitions and innovative designs, they've grown into a dominant player, known for their luxurious, high-performance Gulfstream jets.
• RTX Corp. (Tucson, AZ)
RTX Corp. in Tucson, AZ employs 9,600 people and has been the divisional headquarters for missiles and defense systems since 1922.
• Merck & Co., Inc. (West Point, PA)
Merck & Co. in West Point, PA employs 9,500 people and has been a regional leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing. As the company’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, encompassing 1.9 million square feet on a sprawling 400-acre campus in West Point, Pennsylvania, this site serves as a testing facility and distribution center, making it a central hub for multiple stages of the pharmaceutical development and delivery process. The long history of the West Point site, potentially dating back to 1917 through a merger, further underscores its significance within Merck's network.
• Ford Motor Co. (Kansas City, MO)
Encompassing 5.5 million square feet and employing 9,468, Ford Motor Company's Claycomo, Missouri assembly plant is a major production hub, churning out a significant number of vehicles annually. This facility has a longstanding reputation for producing Ford's iconic F-Series trucks, particularly the popular F-150, making it a crucial part of the company's truck strategy. However, the plant's flexibility extends beyond trucks, having manufactured various other Ford vehicles throughout its history.
Data for the top 20 manufacturing companies in the U.S. was collected by MNI, compiler and publisher of industrial data since 1912. MNI’s 80-person research team pinpoints every industrial establishment in the U.S. Each company is contacted multiple times annually to ensure its information remains up-to-date and complete.
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Further Reading: Top 10 Manufacturing States in the U.S.
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