Greater OKC Region Aerospace Industry – 2025
The five largest private sector aerospace markets by employment are California, Texas, Washington, Florida, and Georgia. All five states have diversified markets with a large share of all three core private sectors. High concentrations within NAICS 3364 (Aerospace Manufacturing) are evident among the leaders, all with large aerospace-related manufacturing sectors. Washington and California have a far larger share of NAICS 3364 than the other states. Among the top five states, Texas, Florida, and Georgia also have relatively high concentrations of NAICS 481 (Air Transportation), which reflects major airports, airline hubs, and substantial air passenger travel. Employment in Oklahoma’s private aerospace sector totaled nearly 19,500 wage and salary workers in 2024, ranking the state 21 st among its peers. Employment is overwhelmingly concentrated in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, which accounts for more than two-thirds of all reported private aerospace jobs in the state. This reflects Oklahoma’s continued strength in maintenance and aircraft components and systems, supported by major manufacturers and contractors operating near Tinker Air Force Base and throughout the Greater OKC and Tulsa regions. 15 Total wages paid to private aerospace workers in Oklahoma reached a reported $1.84 billion in 2024. While this ranks 24 th nationally, the figure underscores a sector that remains high-wage and capital-intensive. Of the $1.84 billion in total aerospace wages, $1.35 billion – roughly 73 percent – was earned in aerospace manufacturing, reinforcing the prominence of high- value production jobs in Oklahoma’s aerospace economy. Support services contributed another $377 million, while air transportation — representing a smaller employment base – added $112 million in annual wages. When compared to leading aerospace states such as Texas, California, and Washington, Oklahoma’s profile is more specialized and manufacturing- and maintenance-driven. These larger states tend to have a more balanced distribution across manufacturing, transportation, and support activities, but Oklahoma competes effectively in its areas of concentration. In particular, the state ranks 12 th nationally in aerospace manufacturing employment and 15 th in wages paid in that subsector. Overall, Oklahoma’s private aerospace sector remains a strong performer, supported by an industrial base that is specialized, strategically located, and tied closely to national defense and logistics networks. Future policy has long built on these strengths by investing in technical training programs, supporting aerospace supply chain development, and positioning the state as a cost-effective, high-skill alternative to more saturated aerospace markets.
15 This also reflects the NAICS classification issue discussed in footnote 17. A reclassification by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of approximately 6,000 jobs from NAICS 4881 to NAICS 3364 between 2017 to 2018 shifted a substantial number of jobs that were historically maintenance and repair jobs to manufacturing. The shift by BLS is believed to overstate manufacturing employment in NAICS 3364 and understate maintenance and repair activity in NAICS 4881. The shift does not affect overall totals for employment or wages in Figure 12 but affects the individual components reported in Figures 13 and 14.
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