Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact

Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report 2023

This NSSF report details the significant economic impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on our economy, both nationally and at the state level. The economic growth America’s firearm and ammunition industry has experienced in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable and has been driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms. This includes an estimated 4.2 million new gun owners in 2022. 

The report also notes the significant impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on wildlife conservation funding in America through its growing Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund which exceeded $1.15 billion in 2022. 

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Regardless of economic conditions across the country, our industry has grown and created over 390,000 new, well-paying jobs since the middle of the Great Recession in 2008. Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in our economy.

Take a look for yourself and see the impact we have nationally and on your home state.


The Firearm Industry Creates Jobs in America

United States companies that manufacture, distribute, and sell sporting firearms, ammunition, and supplies are an important part of the country’s economy. Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and supplies, along with the companies that sell and distribute these products, provide well-paying jobs in America and pay significant amounts in tax to the state and Federal governments.

Economic Impact of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Industry in the United States

Direct Supplier Induced Total
Jobs (FTE) 172,697 97,823 123,176 393,696
Wages $9,372,350,400 $8,188,510,300 $8,026,286,800 $25,587,147,500
Economic Impact $32,110,233,100 $24,468,955,600 $24,151,650,400 $80,730,839,100

The Firearm & Ammunition Industry is an Important Part of America’s Economy

Companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute, and sell firearms, ammunition, and hunting equipment employ as many as 172,697 people in the country and generate an additional 220,999 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These include jobs in supplying goods and services to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and those that depend on sales to workers in the firearm and ammunition industry.1

These are good jobs paying an average of $65,000 in wages and benefits. And today, every job is important. The United States currently has an unemployment rate of 3.40 percent. This means that there are already 6,026,000 people trying to find jobs in the nation and collecting unemployment benefits.2

The Economic Benefit of the Industry Spreads Throughout the Country

Not only does the manufacture and sale of firearms and hunting supplies create good jobs in the United States, but the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole. In fact, in 2022 the firearm and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $80.73 billion in total economic activity in the country.

The broader economic impact flows throughout the economy, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms. Real people, with real jobs, working in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, metal working, even in printing, all depend on the firearm and ammunition industry for their livelihood.

The Country Also Benefits From the Taxes Paid By The Industry

Not only does the industry create jobs, it also generates sizeable tax revenues. In the United States, the industry and its employees pay over $7.48 billion in taxes including property, income, and sales based levies.3

Taxes Generated in the United States

Tax Impact Business Taxes Excise Taxes
Federal Taxes $5,530,765,000 $1,150,847,728
State Taxes $1,946,804,700
Total Taxes $7,477,569,700 $1,150,847,728

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1 John Dunham & Associates, Florida, December 2022. Direct impacts include those jobs in firearms and ammunition manufacturers, as well as companies that manufacture products such as ammunition holders and magazines, cases, decoys, game calls, holsters, hunting equipment, scopes, clay pigeons and targets. Direct impacts also include those resulting from the wholesale distribution and retailing of these products.
2 The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online at: www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm . Data for December 2022
3 This is in addition to over $1.15 billion in federal excise taxes.