Manufacturing'simpact in DFW

The Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex ranks among the top two U.S. manufacturing markets nationally — anchored by aerospace, defense, electronics, food & beverage, and automotive production.

DFW Manufacturing at a Glance

311K
Jobs
Manufacturing Employment — 2024 Annual Avg. (BLS / FRED)
+2.8%
yoy growth
Mfg. job growth Aug 2024 — vs. –0.1% nationally (BLS)
$36.60
per hour
DFW avg. private hourly earnings — above Texas & U.S. avg. (Dallas Fed, Q1 2025)
3.9%
Unemployment
DFW metro rate — below national avg. (Dallas Fed, 2024 year-end)
$688.9B
Metro GDP
DFW GDP — 3rd fastest-growing major U.S. metro in 2022 (BEA)
600+
A&D Firms
Aerospace & defense companies in the Fort Worth region alone (Fort Worth EDP, 2024)
23,500+jobs
in the six-county Fort Worth region
$100K+
avg. A&D sector wage in Ft. Worth region
Lockheed Martin, Bell Textron, Raytheon, Embraer, GE, and 600+ other firms anchor Fort Worth as one of North America's leading aerospace & defense manufacturing hubs.

Top Manufacturing Occupations and Wages in DFW

Occupation Group% of DFW WorkforceAvg. Hourly Wage (DFW)Notes
Management9.4%$68.53Highest-concentration major group in DFW
Computer & Mathematical$55.92High demand in electronics & defense sectors
Architecture & Engineering$46–$50+Led by aerospace & A&D engineering roles
Installation, Maintenance & Repair$24–$28Critical skilled trades pipeline need
Office & Administrative Support12.7%$22–$24Largest occupation group overall in DFW
Transportation & Material Moving10.2%$19–$22Driven by DFW logistics & supply chain scale
Production Workers$18–$21Entry-level: HS diploma or equivalent
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA, May 2024. Cross-industry averages; manufacturing-specific wages may vary by sector.

Top Manufacturing Sectors in DFW Reigon

Aerospace & Defense

Home to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and a growing defense supply chain, DFW is one of the nation's premier aerospace hubs.

Electronics & Semiconductors

With Texas Instruments headquartered here and new chip investments flowing in, demand for electronics technicians is surging.

Food & Beverage

One of the largest and most stable manufacturing sectors in DFW, offering consistent entry-level and skilled operator roles.

Advanced Manufacturing

Robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0 technologies are redefining what it means to work in manufacturing — and creating high-value new roles.

Growing Rapidly

Automotive % EV Manufacturing

Tesla Gigafactory Texas (Austin–DFW corridor), GM Arlington, Cintas