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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 58% of all private-sector research and development (R&D), fueling advancements across industries.
In terms of economic output, the manufacturing sector contributed $2.94 trillion to the U.S. economy in Q4 2024, accounting for 9.9% of total GDP. This sector remains a major employer, with nearly 13 million manufacturing workers as of April 2025. Additionally, for every $1 spent in manufacturing, there is a total impact of $2.64 on the overall economy, demonstrating its far-reaching influence.
From automobiles to electronics, American-made goods are in high demand worldwide, making the U.S. one of the top manufacturing exporters. 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 key data points on each company. Here are some insights gathered from MNI data on this essential industry for 2025.
• There are currently 262,931 manufacturing companies in the United States that employ 13,390,170 workers.*
• Employment in the U.S. manufacturing sector has increased 1.2% over the past year (May 2024 to May 2025)
• 5,330 U.S. manufacturers or 2% are women-owned, while 2,288 or 1% are minority-owned.
• 35,563 or 13% of manufacturing companies in the United States import raw materials
• 78,606 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Co. | 30,000 | Everett | WA |
| Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 21,800 | Newport News | VA |
| Tesla Motors, Inc. | 20,600 | Fremont | CA |
| 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 |
| Stellantis US, LLC | 15,000 | Auburn Hills | MI |
| Dell, Inc. | 13,000 | Round Rock | TX |
| Electric Boat Corp. | 12,000 | Groton | CT |
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. | 12,000 | Pascagoula | MS |
| Tesla, Inc. | 12,000 | Sparks | NV |
| The Boeing Co. | 12,000 | Renton | WA |
| Nike IHM | 11,400 | Beaverton | OR |
| BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC | 11,200 | Greer | SC |
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 10,157 | Indianapolis | IN |
| 3M Co. | 10,100 | St. Paul | MN |
| Dell EMC | 10,000 | Hopkinton | MA |
| Micron Technology, Inc. | 10,000 | Boise | ID |
| Northrop Grumman Aerospace International, Inc. | 10,000 | Redondo Beach | CA |
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1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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."
4. Tesla, Inc (Austin, TX)
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.
5. 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.
6. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. (Fort Worth, TX)
Above: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, TX. (source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)
Lockheed Martin's 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.
7. 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).
8. Stellantis US, LLC (Auburn Hills, MI)
Employees at Stellantis's Sterling Heights (Michigan) Assembly Plant install the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine on the chassis that will power the Ram 1500 TRX Launch Edition. (Image courtesy of Stellantis)
Stellantis is one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA. Employing 15,000 at its Auburn Hills site, the company operates iconic brands like Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Fiat, focusing on innovative mobility solutions, electric vehicle development, and global market expansion.
9. Dell, Inc. (Round Rock, TX)
Dell maintains a major U.S. manufacturing presence, producing servers, data storage systems, and high-performance computing solutions at its Austin, Texas facility. While much of its consumer hardware assembly is done internationally, Dell’s Enterprise Solutions Group continues to manufacture custom IT infrastructure for businesses and government institutions in the U.S.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Tesla, Inc. (Sparks, NV)
Tesla’s Gigafactory Nevada, located in Sparks, is a massive 1.3 million square-foot facility dedicated to lithium-ion battery production and electric vehicle components. Employing 12,000, the factory supplies battery packs for Tesla’s vehicles, produces Tesla Powerwall home energy storage devices, and assembles the Tesla Semi.
13. 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.
14. Nike IHM (Beaverton, OR)
Nike IHM, a key player in Nike’s Air Manufacturing Innovation, operates two U.S. manufacturing sites in Beaverton, OR and St. Charles, MO. These facilities produce Nike Air soles using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) extrusion and thermoforming, supplying millions of Nike athletic shoes annually. The U.S. plants also develop performance plastics for sports equipment and apparel.
15. 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.
16. Ely Lily & Co. (Indianapolis, IN)
Eli Lilly’s Indianapolis facility plays a crucial role in pharmaceutical manufacturing, focusing on active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) production for key treatments. The site has seen significant investment, including a $9 billion expansion to boost API production for tirzepatide-based medicines, such as Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, which are used for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments. Additionally, Lilly’s Medicine Foundry, a new $4.5 billion facility, is set to enhance drug development and clinical trial manufacturing, supporting next-generation therapies.
17. 3M Co. (St. Paul, MN)
Employing 10,000 workers, 3M’s St. Paul, MN facility is a major hub for industrial, healthcare, and consumer product manufacturing. The site produces water filtration systems, laboratory purification equipment, ear protection devices (earplugs and earmuffs), and various adhesives
18. Dell EMC (Hopkinton, MA)
Dell EMC’s Hopkinton, MA facility has been a cornerstone of enterprise data storage and cloud infrastructure since 1998. Originally the headquarters of EMC Corporation, the site became part of Dell Technologies following the 2016 merger. Home to 10,000 workers, the Hopkinton campus has historically focused on research, development, and manufacturing of high-performance data storage solutions, including PowerMax, VxRail, and Isilon storage systems.
19. 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.
20. 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.
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.
Want to access MNI's comprehensive business profiles for your sales, marketing or business development efforts? Learn more about IndustrySelect, the industrial database, or browse databases by industry, state, region and more. Want to take IndustrySelect for a test drive? Set up your free demo account, loaded with 500 real company profiles!
Further Reading: Top 10 Manufacturing States in the U.S.
Editor's note: This article is updated in May of each year to reflect new statistics and top companies.
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