Fairfax County Key Industries

We’re more than just tech.

Our key industries are game-changers and are pushing the boundaries of how we all experience technological innovations in our lives. A bold statement? We’re bold here in Fairfax County.

Cybersecurity. Aerospace. Healthcare. The sciences. These are just a few of the many industries in Northern VA that Fairfax County is dominating. Here, great minds come together to rethink, rework and reshape the way we live.

The success of Fairfax County key industries is evident in the region’s economic expansion — and the driving force is the technology sector. We’re currently home to 8,800 technology firms, ranging from high-profile, publicly-held companies to entrepreneurial startups. Knowledge-based enterprises directly employ more than 150,000 people in Fairfax County. All thrive, thanks to easy access to business, consumer, and federal customer markets.

Technical, scientific, and professional services account for 25 percent of employment in the county (four times the national average). Other key industries rely on Fairfax County’s large pool of executive, management, and financial workers. And it is a young workforce: One-third of the county’s professional and technical jobs are held by young adults ages 19 to 34.

Several Fortune 500 firms are headquartered here in Fairfax County, including Beacon Roofing Supply, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Freddie Mac, General Dynamics, Hilton, Leidos, Northrop Grumman, NVR, and SAIC. But that is just the beginning of Fairfax County’s business story. We’re home to innovative startups, hundreds of companies from other countries, and a vibrant minority business community.

When moving to Fairfax County, businesses have their choice of several top areas in close proximity to our nation’s capital, including Alexandria, Arlington, Chantilly, Falls Church, Herndon, McLean, and Reston. Fairfax is also conveniently located near other populous areas, including Richmond, New York City, Philadelphia, and our neighboring state of Maryland.

Our location in the Washington, D.C., metro area means that government contracts, defense, and financial services are all hot topics in Fairfax County. If there’s a new or emerging industry, you can be sure that companies in Fairfax County will be tinkering and innovating within it before the world hears about it.