How Many People Work at Boeing? Headcount and Employee Trends

Boeing employs more than 75,000 people worldwide, supporting its commercial, defense, and space programs. Recent staffing data shows modest net growth, with new hiring outpacing departures by several hundred roles. Overall attrition accounts for roughly four percent of the workforce, indicating relatively stable retention for a company of this scale. The numbers highlight Boeing’s continued need for specialized engineering talent and broad operational support to fulfill its diverse portfolio of aircraft and services.

Engineering is by far the largest organization at Boeing, comprising about 42% of total headcount with more than 32,000 specialists designing, testing, and certifying aircraft and spacecraft systems. Operations follows at roughly 17%, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of large-scale manufacturing and assembly lines. Business Management, Finance & Administration, and Information Technology collectively represent close to 21% of employees, underscoring the importance of program oversight, financial stewardship, and digital infrastructure. Sales & Support, Program & Project Management, Quality, and Marketing & Product functions each range between 3–5% of staff, while an additional group classified as Other houses cross-functional or emerging teams. This spread illustrates Boeing’s balanced investment in both technical excellence and the corporate capabilities that keep complex programs on schedule and within scope.

Boeing’s workforce is concentrated in the United States, with the Puget Sound region serving as the primary employment hub. Seattle hosts about 13,000 employees, or 17% of the total company headcount, while nearby Everett and Renton add a further 4,300 positions dedicated to wide-body and single-aisle aircraft production. St. Louis accounts for over 4,700 employees focused mainly on defense programs, and Southern California sites in Los Angeles and Long Beach jointly employ more than 3,000 people across satellite, space, and legacy commercial operations. Additional clusters in Kent, Mesa, and Oklahoma City support space systems, rotorcraft, and sustainment work. Approximately 63% of employees fall into an “Other” category that spans smaller U.S. and international facilities, illustrating the breadth of Boeing’s global manufacturing and service footprint.