The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released a report detailing the significant growth of the firearm and ammunition industry’s economic impact in the United States. According to the report, the industry’s total economic impact has increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $91.7 billion in 2024, marking a 379% rise. Employment in the industry has also surged, with the number of full-time equivalent jobs growing from approximately 166,000 to nearly 383,000, a 130% increase during the same period.
The report highlights the industry’s broader influence on the economy, as it supports and generates business for companies across various sectors. In 2024, the industry’s economic impact grew from $90.5 billion in 2023 to $91.7 billion. This increase comes at a time when employment remains a crucial economic indicator in the United States.
Additionally, the firearm and ammunition industry contributed almost $11 billion in property, income, and sales-based business taxes, alongside $886 million in federal excise taxes, which aid wildlife conservation efforts. Joe Bartozzi, NSSF president and CEO, emphasized the industry’s role as a major economic contributor nationwide. “Our industry is a vital economic contributor to every state and every community. These are companies employing men and women from all walks of life, and they prove daily that the American firearm and ammunition industry is strong,” he stated.
According to Bartozzi, the industry plays an essential role in enabling Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights through recreational target shooting and hunting, while being a primary source of wildlife conservation funding in the country. “The growth of the firearm industry equals more jobs that add to our local economies, averaging $68,300 in wages and benefits, up from $67,500 reported last year,” added Bartozzi.
Since 2008, federal business tax payments have risen by 340%, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes supporting wildlife conservation by 152%, and state business taxes by 238%. The annual Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report provides a detailed state-by-state analysis of job numbers, wages, and economic output, including federal excise taxes paid.
