Defense & Aerospace
The Dayton Region is one of the nation's premier defense and aerospace hubs, anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base — the largest single-site employer in Ohio with over 30,000 employees and a $3.4 billion annual economic impact. The base hosts the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, creating a dense ecosystem of defense contractors, research labs, and technology firms.
What you should know.
Wright-Patterson AFB: 30,000+ employees, $3.4B annual impact
Air Force Research Laboratory — nation's premier military R&D
Over 600 defense contractors in the region
AFRL spending exceeds $2.5B annually
Growing cybersecurity and autonomous systems sectors
Who's hiring.
Wright-Patterson AFB
30,000+Headquarters for Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL, and NASIC
L3Harris Technologies
2,500+Defense electronics and communication systems
SAIC
1,800+Government services and IT solutions
Northrop Grumman
1,200+Aerospace and defense technology
Leidos
900+IT, engineering, and science solutions
What these roles pay in Dayton.
Remember: cost of living in Dayton is 18% below the national average.