Virginia Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Virginia account for 8.21% of the total output in the state, employing 5.97% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $45.72 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 233,000 manufacturing employees in Virginia in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $74,557.60 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$45.72
(Percent share of total gross state product)
8.21%
Manufacturing Firms in Virginia (2017)
4,570

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
233,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
5.97%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$74,557.60
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$53,908.18

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

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Virginia Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Virginia’s economy, with $13.09 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $5.66 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 20.30% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 86.00% percent of all exporters in Virginia.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$13.09
(Percent share of total goods exports)
79.65%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
70,518
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
20.30%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
86.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$5.66
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
43.27%
Canada
19.92%
China
10.29%
Mexico
5.98%
Singapore
4.85%
United Kingdom
4.61%

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

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – 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.