Where are America’s cars built?
America has had a love affair with cars ever since the Model T. In the century since, the automobile industry has changed how people get around and how/where they work. Let’s take a spinthrough production numbers and auto industry jobs nationwide.
- In 2022, automakers in the US produced 12.86 million vehicles due to a pandemic-related dip in production trends. From 2015 to 2019, car manufacturers produced 16 to 17 million vehicles annually.
- In 2024, the auto industry employed an average of 4.5 million people — about 2.8% of all US jobs. Michigan employed the most people in vehicle manufacturing (48,600 people) and parts manufacturing (118,300).
- California ranked second for vehicle manufacturing (28,700 people), followed by Kentucky (24,000). As for parts manufacturing, Ohio (65,700 people) and Indiana (54,200) employed the second- and third-highest numbers of people in the industry.
- Of all vehicles produced in 2022, SUVs made up 54% (6.97 million). Cars followed at 27%, then pickup trucks (16%), and vans (3%).
How much do teachers get paid in the US?
Teachers shape the future, but how are they paid in the present? Teacher pay varies across the country depending on location, specialization, and grade level. Here’s your study guide on how much teachers earn and where their salaries stretch the farthest.
- In 2024, the median annual salary for pre-K-12 teachers in the US was $63,000. The lowest-paid 10% earned $46,800 or less, while the highest-paid 10% earned $102,000 or more.
- Washington had the highest median salary for elementary teachers ($99,000), while Oklahoma had the lowest ($47,470). After adjusting for cost of living, Washington still topped the list with an adjusted median salary of $91,000. Arizona had the lowest at $50,000.
- Preschool teachers earned a median salary of $52,810, elementary school teachers earned $62,360, while high school teachers made $64,690.
- Public and private schools also play a role. In 2024, teachers in public schools earned a median wage of $63,980 per year, while teachers in private schools earned $57,570.
- Teachers of students is disabilities teachers earn more than general education teachers. In 2024, their median wages ranged from 1% to 19% higher than other teachers at the same grade level.
Data behind the news
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently announced that the National Centers for Environmental Information would not update its database on billion-dollar weather and climate disasters after 2024. We have some of the last of that data on our site.
The weekly fact quiz is here. Have you studied?
One last fact
In 2024, the US brought in $77 billion in customs duties, most of which came from tariffs. This comprised 1.6% of total federal revenue (which hasn’t been above 2% since the 1960s).