Aerospace now leads more US states than any other industry. In 2017 that title belonged to machinery, with aerospace second.
Aerospace leads 13 states in 2024, up from eight in 2017, while machinery fell from 12 states to eight. Pharmaceuticals grew from one state to six. In all, 19 of the 50 states have a different leading industry than in 2017.
Key Takeaways
Aerospace leads the most states in 2024 (13), followed by machinery (8) and pharmaceuticals (6).
31 states kept the same leading industry between 2017 and 2024, and 19 changed.
Texas, California, New York and Louisiana shipped 40.5 percent of all US goods exports in 2025.
Which industries lead the most states in 2024?
Aerospace leads 13 states, from Washington and Georgia to Kansas and Hawaii. Machinery and mechanical appliances is next with eight, including California, Oregon and Wisconsin, and pharmaceuticals leads six, from Pennsylvania to Illinois. Oil and gas keeps mineral products in first place in Texas and Louisiana.
Industry
States led in 2017
States led in 2024
States in 2024
Aerospace
8
13
Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Washington
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances
12
8
California, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin
Pharmaceuticals
1
6
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania
Mineral Products
7
5
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Texas, Virginia
Automotive
7
4
Alabama, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina
Precious and Primary Metals
4
3
Nevada, New Jersey, Utah
Meat
4
3
Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota
Chemicals and Allied Industries
1
3
Montana, West Virginia, Wyoming
Precision Instruments
3
1
Tennessee
Fishing
2
1
Alaska
Wood Pulp and Paper
0
1
Maine
Waste and Scrap
0
1
Rhode Island
Miscellaneous Manufactured Goods
0
1
New York
Accommodation and Food Services
1
0
None
Texas, California, New York and Louisiana shipped $885.2 billion of the nation’s $2,185.2 billion in goods exports in 2025, or 40.5 percent, and Texas alone exported $450.3 billion.
Which states changed their leading industry?
Nineteen states changed and 31 held. Pharmaceuticals gained the most ground. Pennsylvania moved from mineral products, Illinois from machinery, Indiana and Delaware from automotive, and Massachusetts from precision instruments. Aerospace gained five states too. Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire and Oklahoma moved over from machinery, and Ohio from automotive.
Elsewhere, Iowa moved from meat to machinery and Minnesota from precision instruments to machinery. Virginia moved from machinery to mineral products, while Montana and West Virginia moved from mineral products to chemicals. Maine, which led in fishing, now leads in pulp and paper. Rhode Island moved from precious metals to waste and scrap, and New York from precious metals to miscellaneous manufactured goods. Nevada moved from hotels and restaurants to metals.
