workers in 2024, ranking the state 21st 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 24th 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 12th nationally in aerospace manufacturing employment and 15th 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.
Greater OKC Region Aerospace and Aviation - 2025
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