Our Economic Impact

NSSGA represents 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel produced annually in the United States. The aggregates industry employs more than 100,000 men and women.

Sales and employees

 

When the aggregates industry is thriving, the national economy is thriving. Aggregates are the building blocks of communities across the country and the infrastructure that connects them. 

 

Find more statistics and information on our Shareables page

 

Want to know statistics for a particular state? Check out our Aggregates State-by-State page

Rocks by the Numbers

Read below for some economic fast facts about the aggregates industry, taken from the 2025 Economic Impact of the Natural Aggregates Industry: A National, State, and County Analysis study performed by the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies.

  • The aggregates industry generates nearly $40 billion in sales annually

  • The aggregates industry employs more than 104,000 people

  • Each job in the aggregates industry supports an additional 5.95 jobs throughout the economy

  • Each dollar of earnings in the aggregates industry creates another $4.95 of earnings across other sectors

  • The aggregates industry supports $171 billion in national sales

  • The aggregates industry supports $55 billion in national earnings

  • The aggregates industry supports more than 620,000 jobs in other industries

  • According to the USGS, natural aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel) accounts for 94% of the materials used in the construction of interstate highway

  • 90% of aggregates are consumed within 50 miles of its extraction point

  • Average earnings per job in the aggregates industry were $87,416 in 2023

 

Economic Scorecard

  • In 2017, the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies released a study on the positive impact a stone, sand or gravel operation has on jobs, tax revenues and other businesses.

 

  • In 2025, the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies updated the study and found that the aggregates industry is a significant contributor to the economic wellbeing of the United States, generating nearly $40 billion in sales annually.