Workforce

The U.S. Aerospace & Defense industry employed 2.5 million workers in 2018. This figure represents approximately two percent of the nation’s total employment base and 20 percent of the nation’s manufacturing workforce.
The average salary of an employee in the U.S. Aerospace & Defense industry is 87 percent above the national average. According to the latest data, the average A&D worker earned an annual pay of $92,700 in wages and benefits.
In 2018, the commercial aerospace segment of the A&D industry supported 511,491 direct jobs. The commercial aerospace segment includes the design and manufacture of civil aircraft, helicopters and space systems.
In 2016, the national security & defense segment of the A&D industry supported 370,084 direct jobs. The national security & defense segment includes the design and manufacture of military aircraft, ground systems, ships, tactical vehicles and related systems.
In addition to the jobs supported by the industry’s commercial aerospace and defense and national security segments, U.S. A&D supported an additional 1.67 million jobs in the industry’s supply chain, which includes 712,735 jobs in firms providing services to manufacturers.