• There are 11,496 manufacturing firms in North Carolina, based on 2024 data (BLS).
  • North Carolina ranks 8th in the nation for its manufacturing contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on data for 2023 (BEA).
  • North Carolina manufacturing contributes 3.7% of total US manufacturing output (2023 BEA).
  • North Carolina leads the Southeast in manufacturing (2023 data, BEA).
  • Out of all industrial sectors in North Carolina, as of 2023, manufacturing is second for GDP contribution at 15%, behind Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (BEA).
  • Manufacturing employs 467,325 workers in the state, according to 2024 data (BLS).
  • The average hourly rate is $35.00, according to 2024 data (BLS). The weekly wages in manufacturing place it 9th among the state’s 20 industrial sectors (2024 BLS data). Manufacturing wages are higher on average than healthcare and social assistance, transportation, and construction.
  • Fabricated metal production has the highest number of establishments (1649); food manufacturing employs the most (62,163), with chemical production coming in second (47,415), according to 2024 BLS data.
  • Small manufacturers are the backbone of the sector. Of the 11,496 manufacturing companies in North Carolina, 90% have fewer than 100 employees (2024 BLS).

*Sources: US Bureau of Economic Analysis and US Bureau of Labor Statistics
 

North Carolina Named Top State 2024
Site Selection Group announced the 2024 Best States for Manufacturing ranking, and North Carolina took the top honors. The organization annually evaluates and ranks states’ competitiveness for manufacturing investments.

 

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