Factories in Washington
Washington has 6,586 manufacturing establishments employing 264,782 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 2.1% of US manufacturing jobs and the 17th most of any state. The largest industries by employment are vehicles, aircraft and parts, food and fabricated metal products. We track 3 new plant projects here, 0 under construction.
- Establishments
- 6,586
- Census 2023
- Manufacturing jobs
- 264,782
- Census 2023
- In EPA records
- 2,425
- Active, ECHO
- New plants
- 3
- 0 building
- Sheet
- WA
- Revised
- November 11, 2026
What is made in Washington
| Industry (NAICS subsector) | Establishments | Employees | In EPA records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles, aircraft and parts 336 | 347 | 80,865 | 315 |
| Food 311 | 885 | 37,274 | 200 |
| Fabricated metal products 332 | 1,058 | 21,792 | 338 |
| Computers and electronics 334 | 300 | 20,739 | 94 |
| Machinery 333 | 364 | 13,820 | 128 |
| Wood products 321 | 378 | 13,230 | 208 |
| Chemicals 325 | 258 | 12,595 | 210 |
| Plastics and rubber 326 | 177 | 9,598 | 86 |
| Beverages and tobacco 312 | 732 | 9,416 | 28 |
| Paper 322 | 76 | 7,868 | 55 |
| Medical devices and other goods 339 | 650 | 7,779 | 59 |
| Glass, cement and stone 327 | 273 | 6,871 | 288 |
| Furniture 337 | 299 | 5,489 | 46 |
| Printing 323 | 399 | 4,999 | 57 |
| Primary metals 331 | 63 | 3,910 | 75 |
| Electrical equipment and appliances 335 | 87 | 3,451 | 31 |
| Petroleum and coal products 324 | 22 | 2,357 * | 190 |
| Textile products 314 | 113 | 1,334 | 9 |
| Apparel 315 | 59 | 510 | 2 |
| Textile mills 313 | 21 | 472 * | 6 |
| Leather goods 316 | 25 | 413 | 0 |
Establishments and employees: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, mid-March employment. * Census flags this figure as having high noise. "In EPA records" counts active facilities in EPA's ECHO database, a subset that excludes plants EPA doesn't regulate.
New plants in Washington
| Project | Industry | Status | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasco dairy processing plantDarigold (Northwest Dairymen's Association), Pasco | Food and beverage | Operating | $1.0Bjobs not stated |
| Spokane sterile injectable fill-finish plant expansionJubilant HollisterStier, Spokane | Pharmaceuticals | Operating | $285M200 jobs |
| Moses Lake silicon anode plantSila Nanotechnologies, Moses Lake | Batteries | Operating | —500 jobs |
Factory pages in Washington
31 Washington factories have their own page so far: the facilities that report to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory and hold the most detailed federal records. See all 31, grouped by industry.
Questions
What is made in Washington?
Washington has 6,586 manufacturing establishments employing 264,782 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 2.1% of US manufacturing jobs and the 17th most of any state. The largest industries by employment are vehicles, aircraft and parts, food and fabricated metal products.
How many manufacturers are in Washington?
6,586 manufacturing establishments (Census, 2023). EPA's ECHO database lists 2,425 active manufacturing facilities in Washington that it regulates, 600 of which report to the Toxics Release Inventory.
Are new factories being built in Washington?
We track 3 large plant projects in Washington announced since 2021: 0 under construction, 0 announced, 3 operating.
Can you tour a factory in Washington?
Yes: Beecher's Handmade Cheese Cheesemaking Viewing (Pike Place), Boehm's Candies Factory Tour, Boeing Factory Tour (Future of Flight), Bonneville Lock and Dam Visitor Centers (Washington Shore powerhouse viewing) and 5 more.