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Headphone Manufacturing in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Christian Perdomo Christian Perdomo New York, United States Last Updated: January 2024 NAICS OD4444

Revenue

$424.6m

2024

$431.2m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

769

Businesses

41

Wages

$XX.Xm

Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry analysis

The Headphone Manufacturing industry has grown considerably. Although competition from imports remains high, the industry has benefited from many technological developments sustaining demand for higher-quality domestic products, boosting exports. While foreign manufacturers win over price-sensitive consumers, domestic manufacturers can specialize in higher-end headphones, like Bluetooth-enabled and higher sound-quality headphones. In particular, rapid growth in the Bluetooth headphones product segment has benefited the industry, as many consumer electronics products offer wireless capabilities. Also, niche markets like gaming and luxury headphones have enabled certain companies to specialize in various headphones. Overall, industry-wide revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 12.1% over the past five years, including an estimated 0.2% increase in the current year, and is expected to total $424.6 million in 2023. In the same year, profit is projected to increase to 9.4%.Headphones, similar to other consumer electronics, are categorized as discretionary goods, and therefore, demand is influenced by economic factors that impact income levels. Thus, industry revenue typically falls amid negative economic conditions. However, work-from-home policies and at-home schooling that resulted from COVID-19 in 2020 boosted domestic and international demand for headphones. Growth in per capita disposable income will accelerate over the coming five years, supporting purchases of discretionary goods, like headphones and other electronic accessories. Further, although imports will continue to satisfy most of the domestic demand, the growing popularity of e-commerce will grant manufacturers greater access to direct consumer markets. Similarly, an expected depreciation in the US dollar will facilitate growth in export revenue. So, IBISWorld anticipates the industry's revenue to increase at a CAGR of 1.5% over the next five years, reaching $457.1 million in 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry has ballooned because of the rising demand for premium and Bluetooth wireless headphones. Pandemic conditions and a shift from sourcing overseas to domestic production have amplified this growth.
  • Apple's removal of the headphone jack in iPhone 7 catalyzed a shift towards wireless headphones, influencing similar changes across the tech industry.
  • The industry is heavily concentrated in the West, specifically California; this is strategic because of the ease of international trade and proximity to large potential customer bases.
  • Headphone manufacturers compete for strong relationships within the industry's supply chain. A solid network of distributors and dealers is crucial in promoting and maximizing sales.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 12.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $424.6m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Tech innovations and increased disposable income spur growth in the headphone industry

  • The industry has seen prolific growth in recent years thanks to generous contributions from technological innovations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Headphone Manufacturing in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg
25.3
0.8
3.2
Creative Technology Ltd
18.1
5.2
28.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Headphone Manufacturing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bluetooth in-ear headphones, Bluetooth over-ear headphones and Wired in-ear headphones. Bluetooth in-ear headphones is the largest segment of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US.

Trends and Insights

Wired in-ear and over-ear headphones are not going out of style

  • The segment includes wired in-ear headphones and wired over-ear headphones.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes manufacturers of headphones, earphones, earbuds and noise-canceling headphones in the United States. Headphones are connected to signal sources like audio amplifiers, radios, CD players, portable media players or cell phones.

What's included in this industry?

In-ear headphone manufacturingOver-ear headphone manufacturingWireless headphone manufacturingBehind-the-neck headphone manufacturingClip-on headphone manufacturing

Companies

Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. KgCreative Technology Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SMARTPHONEOFFSHORINGOUTSOURCINGOVER-EAR HEADPHONESIN-EAR HEADPHONESADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 33431 - Headphone Manufacturing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry has ballooned because of the rising demand for premium and Bluetooth wireless headphones. Pandemic conditions and a shift from sourcing overseas to domestic prod...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Apple's removal of the headphone jack in iPhone 7 catalyzed a shift towards wireless headphones, influencing similar changes across the tech industry.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The industry is heavily concentrated in the West, specifically California; this is strategic because of the ease of international trade and proximity to large potential custom...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Headphone manufacturers compete for strong relationships within the industry's supply chain. A solid network of distributors and dealers is crucial in promoting and maximizin...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Sennheiser consistently innovates to provide its consumers with durable products. The launch of the IE 600 earphones exemplified this approach. Sennheiser used metal additive...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Creative Technology Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Creative Technology Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Headphone manufacturers face many regulations covering product safety, labeling and energy efficiency in the US and globally. They protect their technological advancements th...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The most significant expenses in the industry are wages and purchases. This industry relies on a blend of skilled labor and favorable input prices, like copper, which is cruc...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is $424.6m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in 2024?

There are 41 businesses in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 12.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Headphone Manufacturing market in United States are Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg and Creative Technology Ltd

What does the Headphone Manufacturing in the US in United States include?

In-ear headphone manufacturing and Over-ear headphone manufacturing are part of the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg.

How competitive is the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Headphone Manufacturing in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Hardware Manufacturing in the US
  • Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the US
  • Audio & Video Equipment Manufacturing in the US
  • Audio Production Studios in the US

International industries

  • Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing
  • Audio & Video Equipment Manufacturing in Canada
  • Audio Visual Electronic Equipment Manufacturing in Australia
  • Consumer Electronics Manufacturing in the UK
  • TV, DVD & Video Equipment Manufacturing in China

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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