Washington Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Washington account for 11.21% of the total output in the state, employing 8.45% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $63.13 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 288,000 manufacturing employees in Washington in 2018, with an average annual compensation of $88,492.74 in 2017.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$63.13
(Percent share of total gross state product)
11.21%
Manufacturing Firms in Washington (2016)
6,609

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2018)
288,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
8.45%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2017)
$88,492.74
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2017)
$57,481.83

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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Washington Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Washington’s economy, with $63.10 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2018. That same year, $8.31 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 38.80% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 90.00% percent of all exporters in Washington.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2018)
$63.10
(Percent share of total goods exports)
81.21%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2018)
54.17%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
301,528
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
38.80%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
90.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2018)
$8.31
(Percent of total exports, 2018)
13.18%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (NAFTA, 2018)
$9.99
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2018)
15.84%
China
21.09%
Canada
12.73%
United Kingdom
6.28%
Japan
4.98%
South Korea
3.52%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased nearly 49 percent ($679.46 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2018 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.