Dallas stands as a major economic hub in Texas, powered by thriving industries that drive its success and growth. The city’s economy flourishes through Information Technology and Telecommunications, Financial Services, Trade and Transportation, Professional and Business Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Leisure and Hospitality. These top industries in Dallas play a pivotal role in shaping the city into a center for job creation, technological advancement, and economic opportunity. From leading global companies to innovative local businesses, each sector contributes to the city’s economic growth. This blog details the top industries in Dallas, showcasing their impact, key players, and role in positioning the city as a leader in business and innovation.
Top Industries in Dallas are :
- Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications
- Financial Services
- Trade and Transportation
- Professional and Business Services
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Leisure and Hospitality
Table of Contents
1. Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications
Global IT spending is projected to hit $1.61 trillion in 2024. IT and telecommunication companies like IBM, Texas Instruments, Telvisata, Palo Alto Networks, Verizon, T-Mobile, Data Axle, and ServiceNow are the top players in Dallas’s 5G infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and semiconductor manufacturing. These top industries bring jobs and economic growth and build the IT and telecommunication future, making Dallas a major tech hub.
IBM is into cloud computing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. It is crucial for Dallas’s IT sector, where software engineers, consultants, and sales professionals are employed. IBM generated a global revenue of $60.5 billion and an average annual salary of $81,419. Focusing on its core services, IBM offers emerging technologies that align with global tech trends and contribute to jobs and economic growth. Likewise, Texas Instruments (TI) designs and manufactures semiconductors for analog and embedded processing chips for industrial machinery and personal electronics. TI saw a revenue drop of $15.71 billion in 2024 from $20.03 billion in 2022. Despite the 13.26% year-over-year decline, TI has a long-term investment plan of up to $1.6 billion for three 300mm semiconductor-wafer-manufacturing plants in Texas and Utah.
Dallas’s IT and Telecommunications sector is all about innovation and Managed IT Services (MSPs). MSPs provide tailored network monitoring, cybersecurity, and cloud management for this sector. With MSPs managing IT, companies like IBM and Texas Instruments can focus entirely on innovation and scalability to increase operational efficiency and data security. This saves costs, supports the region’s economic growth, and solidifies Dallas’s position as a global technology leader.
2. Financial Services
The financial industry in Dallas is led by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Capital One, AAA Texas, Alkami Technology, Allstate, Associa, Bank of America, BBVA, Capital One Bank, CBRE Group, Inc., Charles Schwab, Citi, Comerica Bank, and Elevate Credit Inc. These companies provide banking, insurance, and real estate services that drive economic growth and stability in Dallas, Texas.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a global investment bank and technology-driven baking solutions provider. They have over 12,000 employees from 16 campuses, and Chase Tower has over 575 banks. Their personal bankers make $33,340 annually, and executive directors make $182,292 yearly. They are also involved in community activities like HD Waste & Recycling, reflecting their commitment to local economic development. Capital One is the leader in digital banking, major credit card services, and a technological innovator. The Plano office of this company is one of the largest and fosters collaboration and innovation. Capital One invests in community development through programs like an $18 million YMCA facility in South Dallas as part of its larger mission to build healthy communities.
The Financial Services sector in Dallas benefits from Managed IT Services (MSPs), which can simplify IT infrastructure, boost cybersecurity, and accelerate digital banking transformation. Companies like JPMorgan Chase and Capital One can ensure data protection and compliance while focusing on customer service by outsourcing IT. MSPs increase operational scalability and efficiency so financial institutions can keep up with the rapid pace of this tech-driven industry.
3. Trade and Transportation
Trade and transportation in Dallas, Texas, employs 20% of the city’s population and is growing and creating jobs. Big box convenience stores, retail and logistics companies, and commercial aviation companies like 7-Eleven, Amazon, American Airlines Group, Andrews Distributing, Company of North Texas, and At Home Group are the anchors of this industry.
Amazon, the e-commerce and logistics supply chain leader, has invested over $15 billion in North Texas since 2010. They added 13,000 employees to their 37,000 employees in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2023. The growth will continue for the next 10-15 years as Amazon expands its supply chain and customer service operations. Southwest Airlines is a giant air travel company headquartered in Dallas and reported $26.1 billion in revenue in 2023. They employ over 66,000 people in the DFW area and are one of the largest employers in the region. They have implemented assigned seating and overnight flying strategies and plan to add $4 billion in revenue by 2027.
In Dallas’s Trade and Transportation sector, Managed IT Services (MSPs) are key to optimizing logistics tracking, supply chain management, and customer service platforms. MSPs provide tools like real-time monitoring and cybersecurity so companies like Amazon and Southwest Airlines can focus on growing their business, meeting demand, and staying ahead in the fast-paced logistics game.
4. Professional and Business Services
Some of the big players in the Dallas professional and business services sector are Accenture, Alliance Data, AT&T, Atos IT Solutions & Services, Conifer Health Solutions, CoreLogic, CROSSMARK, CyrusOne, Deloitte, DXC Technology, Exela Technologies, Jacobs Engineering Group, and AECOM. These companies are the backbone of the Dallas economy, job creation, and technological advancement.
Jacobs Engineering Group is an engineering, construction, and consulting magnet that brought in $16.35 billion in 2023. The company has a global workforce of 60,000, and since moving to Dallas in 2016, 75% of its local hires have been in Dallas. With modern infrastructure and many companies transitioning to the cloud, Jacobs will grow 6-9% annually and add $10.00 per share by 2025. AECOM, a global infrastructure design and engineering company, reported $16.1 billion in revenue for 2024, up 12% from the prior year ($14.3 billion). The company has around 51,000 employees worldwide and, since moving its corporate leadership to Dallas, has added 1,200 employees to the region. AECOM has a focused strategy on sustainable infrastructure projects that will grow its revenue over the next 10-15 years.
The Professional and Business Services sector in Dallas can benefit from Managed IT Services (MSPs), which support cloud infrastructure, secure data, and drive digital transformation. MSPs provide proactive IT management so that companies like Jacobs Engineering Group and AECOM can run their critical systems smoothly. With scalable solutions and extra IT support, they can focus on delivering big projects and adapting to the ever-changing technology landscape.
5. Healthcare
The healthcare industry in Dallas employs about 12% of the city. This includes big names like Abbott Laboratories, AMN Healthcare, Axxess, Baylor Scott & White Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, CareNow, Children’s Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and CHRISTUS Health. They offer healthcare diagnostics, medical, pediatric, and urgent care services, delivering quality healthcare to Dallas, Texas.
Baylor Scott & White Health is the US’s 4th largest nonprofit health system for comprehensive medical care and hospital management. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, they have assembled a 49,000-employee workforce to meet the growing health needs of Dallas. The $265 million hospital in Frisco, scheduled to open in 2025, will offer inpatient, specialty, and emergency services. This will boost the economy and create new jobs. UT Southwestern Medical Center is an academic and research powerhouse and a significant economic driver for Dallas, with a $3.4 billion operating budget and $489.4 million annual research funding. They employ over 17,000 people and foster diversity and innovation in the medical sciences. Future projects like the new state psychiatric hospital will add to their clinical offerings, create jobs, and support the community’s health needs.
For the Healthcare industry in Dallas, Managed IT Services (MSPs) streamline electronic health records (EHR), secure patient data, and manage telemedicine systems. By managing the IT infrastructure, companies like Baylor Scott & White Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center can focus on patient care and innovation. This means better operational efficiency, lower costs, and compliance with strict healthcare regulations to support the robust healthcare ecosystem.
6. Manufacturing
Dallas’s manufacturing industry employs 5% of the city’s population. This sector is home to many manufacturing powerhouses that excel in aerospace, eye care products, furniture manufacturing, construction materials, networking solutions, and chemicals. The companies that run the industry are Airbus Helicopters, Alcon Laboratories, American Leather, Arcosa, Bell Helicopter, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Borden Dairy, Celanese Corporation, Cisco Systems, Commercial Metals, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and General Motors.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is a global aerospace and defense company with its F-35 program backed by recent $5 billion defense contracts. Its 19,000-employee Fort Worth facility is the largest manufacturer in the area. Its future projections show 160 F-35s per year, adding more than $3 billion to the Texas economy. General Motors is another prominent manufacturer, with total revenues of $48.8 billion for the 3rd quarter of 2024. The Arlington Assembly Plant produces over 1,350 vehicles. That plant alone generated $25 billion in 2022. GM announced new internal combustion engine (ICE) SUVs to create jobs and maintain continuity of creation with a $500 million investment in 2023.
The manufacturing industry in Dallas can use managed IT services to achieve operational efficiency, streamline the supply chain, and automate. MSPs provide critical solutions like real-time system monitoring, network optimization, and data security, enabling companies like Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and General Motors to focus on innovation and production. This collaboration reduces downtime, increases reliability, and stays ahead in a technology-driven industry.
7. Leisure and Hospitality
In the Leisure and Hospitality sector, 10% of Dallas’s workforce is employed. American Airlines Center, Brinker International, CEC Entertainment, Cinemark Holdings, Cinepolis, ClubCorp USA, CorePoint Lodging, and Six Flags Entertainment are the big players that do significant events, restaurant chains, family dining, and cinema. They bring in tourism, foster economic growth, and make Dallas the go-to destination for leisure and entertainment.
Based in Dallas, Brinker International runs and grows international restaurant chains, including Chili’s and Maggiano’s. In 2023, revenue was $4.42 billion, an increment from 2022’s $3.8 billion. Brinker has over 50,000 associated employees at over 1,600 locations. Menu innovation and customer experience drive financial performance, and stable growth is expected for the next 10 years. Another big name in the leisure and hospitality sector is Six Flags Entertainment. They had revenue of $1.43 billion in 2023 compared to $1.36 billion in 2022. Six Flags has 50,000 employees in 2024, vital to the Dallas economy. Six Flags will also invest $1 billion in new rides and attractions over the next 2 years to increase attendance and revenue and create jobs in Arlington.
For the Leisure and Hospitality industry in Dallas, MSPs improve customer experiences, ticketing and booking systems, and secure digital infrastructure. MSPs implement point-of-sale (POS) systems and IT management for companies like Brinker International and Six Flags Entertainment so they can operate smoothly during peak hours. Outsourcing their IT allows these companies to deliver exceptional services, attract customers, and contribute to the city’s economy.
Managed IT Services Supporting the Growth of Dallas’ Leading Industries
Managed IT Services are the backbone of any industry, providing the tools and expertise to achieve operational excellence, robust cybersecurity, and future-ready IT infrastructure. These services ensure smooth operations, protect sensitive data, and provide the scalability to thrive in a competitive market. When it comes to choosing the best, Cloudavize is the premier and most trusted Managed Service Provider in Dallas, delivering custom IT solutions to your business. With a reputation for excellence, innovation, and reliability, Cloudavize is your partner to achieve unparalleled productivity and long-term success.
