Short answer
Michigan had 48 aerospace product and parts manufacturing establishments in 2023, employing 4,827 people on a $408 million payroll (Census County Business Patterns), tenth among states. Engine and engine parts makers account for 21 of them and 3,525 of the jobs. Metro Detroit has 20 establishments and Grand Rapids 10. The state's wider pool is far larger: 943 machine shops, and the Detroit Regional Partnership, citing the state, counts nearly 4,000 companies in defense and aerospace.
- 48 aerospace manufacturing establishments and 4,827 employees in 2023; average pay $84,607.
- Engine and engine parts makers employ 3,525 people, 73% of the state's aerospace manufacturing jobs.
- Macomb County has the most establishments (10); Oakland County's 6 employ 1,426 people.
- Federal aerospace manufacturing contracts performed in Michigan were $119.9 million in fiscal 2025, 28th among states.
- The one listed aerospace company headquartered in Michigan, Dynamic Aerospace Systems, reported no 2025 revenue.
On this page
This report is for people looking at aerospace companies in Michigan: buyers looking for engine and component suppliers, job seekers, automotive suppliers weighing a move into aerospace, and B2B sellers who serve them.
Michigan aerospace in Census data
US Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) 2023, NAICS 3364 (Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing), State of Michigan:
| Measure (2023) | Michigan |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 48 |
| Employees (week of March 12) | 4,827 |
| Annual payroll | $408,396,000 |
| Average employees per establishment | 100.6 |
| Average annual pay | $84,607 |
| Share of US establishments | 2.52% of 1,901 |
| Rank among states by establishments | 10th |
The count covers locations with paid staff, so a two-plant company appears twice, and each location is assigned to its main activity. Michigan's average pay is lower than in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Colorado or Washington; its sites are mostly mid-size component plants rather than airframe or space programs.
Engine parts at the core
| Industry (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft engines and engine parts (336412) | 21 | 3,525 |
| Other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment (336413) | 19 | 795 |
| Aircraft manufacturing (336411) | 7 | 500 |
One more establishment isn't published by code. Engine parts makers average 168 employees each and hold 73% of the jobs, a profile closer to an automotive powertrain supplier than to an airframer.
| Employees per establishment | Establishments |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 10 |
| 5 to 9 | 4 |
| 10 to 19 | 6 |
| 20 to 49 | 6 |
| 50 to 99 | 6 |
| 100 to 249 | 11 |
| 250 to 499 | 4 |
| 500 or more | 1 (the Bureau doesn't publish which class) |
In broad bands, 20 establishments have 1 to 19 employees, 12 have 20 to 99 and 16 have 100 or more (the total less the smaller bands). The CBP state file shows the 15 sites with 100 to 499 employees employ 3,022 people between them.
Where they are
| Area (CBP 2023) | Establishments | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro | 20 | 2,335 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood metro | 10 | 982 |
| Macomb County | 10 | 844 |
| Oakland County | 6 | 1,426 |
| Kent County | 6 | 569 |
| Wayne County | 4 | Not reported (high-noise figure) |
The county rows are part of the metro rows above them. "Not reported (high-noise figure)" means the Census Bureau published a number but flagged that its confidentiality noise moved it by 5% or more. Metro Detroit's 20 sites are mostly engine parts makers (11 establishments, 1,753 employees). Grand Rapids has 3 navigation and guidance instrument makers (NAICS 334511) employing 1,423 people, more than its aerospace parts makers.
The bigger pool: automotive suppliers and engineers
The same Census dataset counts 943 machine shops in Michigan employing 13,425 people, and 1,807 engineering services establishments employing 74,623. Many of those firms already work to tight tolerances and production quality systems, which is why state groups describe a much larger industry. The Detroit Regional Partnership, citing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, says more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 Michigan companies are in defense and aerospace. The Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (AIAM) cites PwC's ranking of Michigan fourth in the nation for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness.
The partnership reported in October 2025 that AJG Aerospace moved its advanced manufacturing headquarters to the Detroit region to produce flight parts, a $33 million investment with 125 new jobs.
Listed companies and contracts
Only one SEC-registered aerospace company has its headquarters in Michigan: Dynamic Aerospace Systems, an over-the-counter drone developer at 3753 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Its 2025 10-K reports no revenue and 13 full-time employees.
USAspending shows $119.9 million of federal contract obligations in fiscal 2025 coded to aerospace manufacturing (NAICS 3364) with a Michigan place of performance, 28th among states. The largest recipients named in the record were Loc Performance Products ($41.8 million), Parker-Hannifin ($12.1 million), GE Aviation Systems ($10.3 million), Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication ($9.7 million) and EOTech ($6.6 million). Much of Michigan's defense work, such as the armored vehicle projects the Detroit Regional Partnership describes, falls outside these aerospace-coded figures.
Moving an automotive supplier into aerospace: the gates
For a Michigan shop entering aerospace, and for anyone selling to one, these are the requirements that decide the timeline:
- AS9100 quality certification. Most aerospace customers require it; certified sites are listed in the IAQG's OASIS database.
- FAA approvals for civil parts. Selling replacement parts into the civil aftermarket needs a Parts Manufacturer Approval under 14 CFR Part 21, subpart K.
- ITAR registration for defense work. Under 22 CFR 122.1, a US manufacturer of defense articles must register with the State Department even if it never exports.
- CMMC for controlled information. Phase 2 begins on 10 November 2026, when DoD intends to require third-party Level 2 certification on applicable contracts.
- A federal registration. SAM.gov registration with the right NAICS codes, so primes and agencies can find the shop.
Illustrative example. The firm, its fees and its hit rate are invented; the machine shop count is from Census data.
Lakeshore Trade Compliance (lakeshoretrade.example), a two-person export compliance firm in Troy, helps manufacturers register under ITAR and build export control programs. Its market is the Michigan machine shops and engineering firms starting defense work, not the 48 aerospace plants. If 2% of the state's 943 machine shops take on defense work in a year, that's about 19 shops; winning half at $18,000 each is about $170,000. It finds them through new SAM.gov registrations and AIAM membership, then writes to the president or quality manager. Bebop can find companies matching "Michigan automotive machining suppliers with 50 to 250 employees pursuing AS9100 or defense contracts" and explain each match.
Local sources
| Source | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan | The state's aerospace association, with a member directory |
| Detroit Regional Partnership | Regional economic development, recent defense and aerospace projects |
| USAspending | Federal awards by recipient and place of performance |
| SAM.gov | Contractor registrations by NAICS code |
| IAQG OASIS | AS9100 certified sites |
Next step: see the state's full factory base in the report on manufacturing companies in Michigan.
Sources
- County Business Patterns (CBP), 2023, US Census Bureau, accessed 30 October 2026
- County Business Patterns methodology (noise flags), US Census Bureau, accessed 30 October 2026
- Aerospace in Michigan, Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan, accessed 30 October 2026
- New Defense Projects Land in the Detroit Region, Detroit Regional Partnership, 27 October 2025
- Dynamic Aerospace Systems Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), 15 April 2026
- Advanced Search: prime contract obligations, FY2025, NAICS 3364, place of performance Michigan, USAspending.gov, US Department of the Treasury, accessed 30 October 2026
- 22 CFR 122.1, Registration: requirements, exemptions, and purpose, US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), 1 April 2025 edition
- 14 CFR 21.301, Parts Manufacturer Approvals: applicability, US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), 1 January 2025 edition
- 32 CFR 170.3, CMMC Program applicability and implementation phases, US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), 1 July 2025 edition
Written by the Bebop team at Blackpearl Group. Published .
Questions people ask
How many aerospace companies are in Michigan?
Census County Business Patterns counted 48 aerospace product and parts manufacturing establishments in Michigan in 2023, employing 4,827 people, tenth among states. The Detroit Regional Partnership, citing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, counts nearly 4,000 Michigan companies in defense and aerospace, a much broader group that includes suppliers, engineering firms and defense vehicle makers.
What aerospace companies are in Michigan?
Federal contract records for fiscal 2025 name Loc Performance Products, Parker-Hannifin, GE Aviation Systems, Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication and EOTech among recipients of aerospace manufacturing contracts performed in Michigan. Census data shows engine and engine parts makers are the largest group, with 21 establishments and 3,525 employees. The Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan publishes a member directory.
Where are aerospace companies in Michigan located?
Mostly in southeast Michigan and the Grand Rapids area. Census data for 2023 puts 20 aerospace manufacturing establishments in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro and 10 in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood. By county, Macomb has 10, Oakland 6 (with 1,426 employees), Kent 6 and Wayne 4. Metro Detroit's sites are mostly engine parts makers.
Can an automotive supplier become an aerospace supplier?
Yes, but it takes time and certification. Most aerospace customers require AS9100, civil replacement parts need an FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval, defense hardware makers must register under ITAR, and contracts with controlled unclassified information need the CMMC level the contract sets. Census data counts 943 machine shops in Michigan, the largest pool of potential entrants.
How much do aerospace jobs in Michigan pay?
Michigan's aerospace manufacturing establishments paid $408.4 million in 2023 to 4,827 employees, an average of $84,607, according to Census County Business Patterns. That's lower than in states with large airframe or space programs, such as Colorado or Washington, because Michigan's sites are mostly component plants. The figure uses employment in the week of March 12.