Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Most Manufacturing Jobs
Manufacturing has been the backbone of the American middle class, and despite decades of decline, it remains a critical employment sector in many states. Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan lead the nation in manufacturing workforce share, reflecting their deep roots in automotive, machinery, food processing, and industrial production. Manufacturing jobs typically pay well above the median for workers without a college degree, making them essential for middle-class formation in many communities. The sector is evolving rapidly: automation, reshoring, and the transition to electric vehicles are creating new manufacturing jobs while eliminating others. States competing for new manufacturing plants invest heavily in workforce training, infrastructure, and tax incentives. The geographic concentration of manufacturing has profound effects on local economies — when a major plant closes, the ripple effects can devastate an entire community, but when new facilities open, they bring jobs, suppliers, and population growth.
Key Findings
- 1Michigan leads with a manufacturing employment share of 18.4%, followed by Indiana (18.3%) and Wisconsin (18.0%).
- 2The gap between #1 Michigan and #51 District of Columbia (1.4%) is 17.0 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 10.0% (South Dakota at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Alabama, Minnesota, South Carolina, Mississippi.
Full Ranking: States With Most Manufacturing Jobs
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Manufacturing % | Median Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 4.4% | $74,815 | 579,761 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 18.0% | $75,670 | 5,892,023 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 8.1% | $57,917 | 1,784,462 |
| 4 | Washington | 9.2% | $94,952 | 7,740,984 |
| 5 | Virginia | 7.1% | $90,974 | 8,657,499 |
| 6 | Vermont | 10.2% | $78,024 | 645,254 |
| 7 | Utah | 10.2% | $91,750 | 3,331,187 |
| 8 | Texas | 8.5% | $76,292 | 29,640,343 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 12.8% | $67,097 | 6,986,082 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 10.0% | $72,421 | 899,194 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 13.4% | $66,818 | 5,212,774 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 10.9% | $86,372 | 1,095,371 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 11.5% | $76,081 | 12,986,518 |
| 14 | Oregon | 10.8% | $80,426 | 4,238,714 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 9.4% | $63,603 | 3,995,260 |
| 16 | Ohio | 14.9% | $69,680 | 11,780,046 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 7.3% | $75,949 | 779,361 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 11.7% | $69,904 | 10,584,340 |
| 19 | New York | 5.8% | $84,578 | 19,872,319 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 4.3% | $62,125 | 2,114,768 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 8.2% | $101,050 | 9,267,014 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 12.8% | $95,628 | 1,387,834 |
| 23 | Nevada | 5.3% | $75,561 | 3,141,000 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 10.5% | $74,985 | 1,965,926 |
| 25 | Montana | 4.8% | $69,922 | 1,105,072 |
| 26 | Missouri | 11.4% | $68,920 | 6,168,181 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 13.3% | $54,915 | 2,951,438 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 13.5% | $87,556 | 5,713,716 |
| 29 | Michigan | 18.4% | $71,149 | 10,051,595 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 9.0% | $101,341 | 6,992,395 |
| 31 | Maryland | 4.7% | $101,652 | 6,170,738 |
| 32 | Maine | 9.0% | $71,773 | 1,377,400 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 7.5% | $60,023 | 4,621,025 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 14.3% | $62,417 | 4,510,725 |
| 35 | Kansas | 12.4% | $72,639 | 2,937,569 |
| 36 | Iowa | 14.7% | $73,147 | 3,195,937 |
| 37 | Indiana | 18.3% | $70,051 | 6,811,752 |
| 38 | Illinois | 11.6% | $81,702 | 12,692,653 |
| 39 | Idaho | 9.4% | $74,636 | 1,893,296 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 2.9% | $98,317 | 1,445,635 |
| 41 | Georgia | 10.2% | $74,664 | 10,822,590 |
| 42 | Florida | 5.2% | $71,711 | 21,928,881 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 1.4% | $106,287 | 672,079 |
| 44 | Delaware | 7.4% | $82,855 | 1,005,872 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 10.6% | $93,760 | 3,598,348 |
| 46 | Colorado | 7.1% | $92,470 | 5,810,774 |
| 47 | California | 8.9% | $96,334 | 39,242,785 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 12.9% | $58,773 | 3,032,651 |
| 49 | Arizona | 7.4% | $76,872 | 7,268,175 |
| 50 | Alaska | 4.0% | $89,336 | 733,971 |
| 51 | Alabama | 14.2% | $62,027 | 5,054,253 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Michigan has the highest manufacturing employment share at 18.4%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Indiana and Wisconsin round out the top three.
District of Columbia has the lowest manufacturing employment share at 1.4%. Hawaii is second-lowest at 2.9%.
The median across all 51 states is 10.0%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.