Which industry receives the most federal contract money in FY2020?

Aircraft Manufacturing, with $68.2B in FY2020.

What is a NAICS code?

The North American Industry Classification System: the standard industry code the buying agency records on each federal contract. It is how the government itself categorises what it purchased.

Where does this ranking come from?

It is computed from USASpending.gov award records, which are U.S. government works and in the public domain. Each figure is the FY2020 contract dollars coded to that NAICS industry. TheFiscalFinder does the ranking; the underlying figures are the government's own.

How many industries are shown?

The top 100 for FY2020. Each row opens that industrie's own page, where the same money is broken out by year, by counterparty and by place.

Does a high position mean anything is wrong?

No. This is a description of where public money went in FY2020, computed from public records. It is not an allegation about anyone on it.

Rankings

Top industries by federal contract dollars: FY2020

FY2020 · complete year · data as of 2026-07-12

≈ computed · NAICS

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Aircraft Manufacturing drew more federal contract money than any other industry in FY2020: $68.2B. Ranked by NAICS industry code, the classification the source records on contracts. NAICS appears on contracts only, so this is a procurement view by construction. Computed

Ranked from USASpending records. FY2020 to FY2026 are loaded.

Quick findings

Computed

The top 10 account for 51% of the $606.4B combined total of all 100 industries listed.

Rank	Name	FY2020
01	Aircraft ManufacturingNAICS 336411	$68.2B
02	Engineering ServicesNAICS 541330	$39.6B
03	Ship Building and RepairingNAICS 336611	$31.2B
04	Facilities Support ServicesNAICS 561210	$30.6B
05	Computer Systems Design ServicesNAICS 541512	$27.1B
06	Commercial and Institutional Building ConstructionNAICS 236220	$24.8B
07	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)NAICS 541715	$24.2B
08	Guided Missile and Space Vehicle ManufacturingNAICS 336414	$22.9B
09	Other Computer Related ServicesNAICS 541519	$20.8B
10	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)NAICS 541712	$20.2B
11	Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument ManufacturingNAICS 334511	$16.7B
12	Direct Health and Medical Insurance CarriersNAICS 524114	$15.8B
13	Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment ManufacturingNAICS 336413	$14.7B
14	Administrative Management and General Management Consulting ServicesNAICS 541611	$13.7B
15	Pharmaceutical Preparation ManufacturingNAICS 325412	$12.4B
16	Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)NAICS 621111	$11.1B
17	All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesNAICS 541990	$10.9B
18	Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts ManufacturingNAICS 336412	$9.8B
19	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life SciencesNAICS 541710	$8.4B
20	Highway, Street, and Bridge ConstructionNAICS 237310	$8.1B
21	Other Heavy and Civil Engineering ConstructionNAICS 237990	$7.2B
22	Custom Computer Programming ServicesNAICS 541511	$7.2B
23	Other Support Activities for Air TransportationNAICS 488190	$6.6B
24	Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component ManufacturingNAICS 336992	$6.2B
25	Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 423450	$6B
26	Petroleum RefineriesNAICS 324110	$5.7B
27	Security Guards and Patrol ServicesNAICS 561612	$5.2B
28	Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 423850	$5.2B
29	Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment ManufacturingNAICS 334220	$4.6B
30	Medicinal and Botanical ManufacturingNAICS 325411	$4.6B
31	Remediation ServicesNAICS 562910	$4.6B
32	Electronic Computer ManufacturingNAICS 334111	$4.5B
33	Wired Telecommunications CarriersNAICS 517110	$4.2B
34	Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air TransportationNAICS 481212	$3.6B
35	Ammunition (except Small Arms) ManufacturingNAICS 332993	$3.6B
36	Surgical and Medical Instrument ManufacturingNAICS 339112	$3.5B
37	Software PublishersNAICS 511210	$3.4B
38	Biological Product (except Diagnostic) ManufacturingNAICS 325414	$3.2B
39	All Other Miscellaneous Food ManufacturingNAICS 311999	$3.1B
40	Research and Development in BiotechnologyNAICS 541711	$2.9B
41	Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air TransportationNAICS 481211	$2.7B
42	Other Communications Equipment ManufacturingNAICS 334290	$2.6B
43	Deep Sea Freight TransportationNAICS 483111	$2.6B
44	Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related ServicesNAICS 518210	$2.5B
45	Hazardous Waste Treatment and DisposalNAICS 562211	$2.4B
46	Computer Facilities Management ServicesNAICS 541513	$2.3B
47	All Other Support ServicesNAICS 561990	$2.2B
48	Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)NAICS 541714	$2.2B
49	Surgical Appliance and Supplies ManufacturingNAICS 339113	$2.1B
50	Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment ManufacturingNAICS 336419	$2B
51	Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 811219	$1.9B
52	Industrial Building ConstructionNAICS 236210	$1.9B
53	Perishable Prepared Food ManufacturingNAICS 311991	$1.9B
54	Other Scientific and Technical Consulting ServicesNAICS 541690	$1.9B
55	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant WholesalersNAICS 424210	$1.6B
56	Janitorial ServicesNAICS 561720	$1.6B
57	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and HumanitiesNAICS 541720	$1.5B
58	Analytical Laboratory Instrument ManufacturingNAICS 334516	$1.5B
59	Advertising AgenciesNAICS 541810	$1.5B
60	Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting ServicesNAICS 541614	$1.4B
61	Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing, and ExtrudingNAICS 331491	$1.4B
62	General Medical and Surgical HospitalsNAICS 622110	$1.4B
63	Other Technical and Trade SchoolsNAICS 611519	$1.3B
64	Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger ManufacturingNAICS 332410	$1.3B
65	All Other Miscellaneous ManufacturingNAICS 339999	$1.2B
66	Electric Power DistributionNAICS 221122	$1.2B
67	Automobile ManufacturingNAICS 336111	$1.1B
68	Medical LaboratoriesNAICS 621511	$1.1B
69	Environmental Consulting ServicesNAICS 541620	$1.1B
70	Food Service ContractorsNAICS 722310	$1.1B
71	Fruit and Vegetable CanningNAICS 311421	$1.1B
72	All Other TelecommunicationsNAICS 517919	$1.1B
73	Commercial BakeriesNAICS 311812	$1.1B
74	Architectural ServicesNAICS 541310	$1B
75	Satellite TelecommunicationsNAICS 517410	$1B
76	Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and RefiningNAICS 331410	$1B
77	Motor Vehicle Body ManufacturingNAICS 336211	$1B
78	Other Electronic Component ManufacturingNAICS 334419	$994.2M
79	Other Management Consulting ServicesNAICS 541618	$989.3M
80	Other Activities Related to Credit IntermediationNAICS 522390	$989M
81	Cut and Sew Apparel ContractorsNAICS 315210	$954M
82	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning ContractorsNAICS 238220	$946.4M
83	In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance ManufacturingNAICS 325413	$923.9M
84	Temporary Help ServicesNAICS 561320	$918.1M
85	Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)NAICS 623110	$907.5M
86	Collection AgenciesNAICS 561440	$892.4M
87	Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories ManufacturingNAICS 332994	$877.3M
88	Office Administrative ServicesNAICS 561110	$876.8M
89	Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery ManufacturingNAICS 333318	$865M
90	Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts ManufacturingNAICS 336415	$857.3M
91	Offices of Certified Public AccountantsNAICS 541211	$850.4M
92	All Other Information ServicesNAICS 519190	$842.6M
93	Flight TrainingNAICS 611512	$828.5M
94	Professional and Management Development TrainingNAICS 611430	$820.3M
95	Support Activities for ForestryNAICS 115310	$811.6M
96	Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus ManufacturingNAICS 334510	$785.6M
97	Other Measuring and Controlling Device ManufacturingNAICS 334519	$776.9M
98	Telemarketing Bureaus and Other Contact CentersNAICS 561422	$774.9M
99	Truck Trailer ManufacturingNAICS 336212	$746.7M
100	National SecurityNAICS 928110	$742.3M

An award carries one NAICS code, chosen by the buying agency for the predominant work. Broad industries therefore absorb work that could plausibly sit in a neighbouring code.

Questions

Which industry receives the most federal contract money in FY2020?: Aircraft Manufacturing, with $68.2B in FY2020.
What is a NAICS code?: The North American Industry Classification System: the standard industry code the buying agency records on each federal contract. It is how the government itself categorises what it purchased.
Where does this ranking come from?: It is computed from USASpending.gov award records, which are U.S. government works and in the public domain. Each figure is the FY2020 contract dollars coded to that NAICS industry. TheFiscalFinder does the ranking; the underlying figures are the government's own.
How many industries are shown?: The top 100 for FY2020. Each row opens that industrie's own page, where the same money is broken out by year, by counterparty and by place.
Does a high position mean anything is wrong?: No. This is a description of where public money went in FY2020, computed from public records. It is not an allegation about anyone on it.

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Why the labels? The graph is only worth anything if the links are trusted. Facts taken straight from a federal filing are Source; figures we calculate are Computed; links we infer (corporate parents, districts, similar contractors, connections between records) are Inferred, worded carefully, never asserted as fact and never a claim that one thing caused another. Spot an error? Tell us.