Washington Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Washington account for 10.64% of the total output in the state, employing 8.04% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $65.20 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 265,000 manufacturing employees in Washington in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $95,777.98 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$65.20
(Percent share of total gross state product)
10.64%
Manufacturing Firms in Washington (2017)
6,589

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
265,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
8.04%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$95,777.98
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$63,661.26

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 $26.16 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $8.80 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, 2020)
$26.16
(Percent share of total goods exports)
63.37%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
301,528
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
38.80%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
90.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$8.80
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
33.63%
Canada
19.84%
Japan
10.45%
China
9.43%
Turkey
6.18%
United Kingdom
5.43%

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.