Economy of Salt Lake City

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Salt Lake City's economy is mainly service-based. It shifted from mining in the 19th century to a mix centered on transportation, call centers, hospitality, and seasonal tourism. The 2002 Winter Olympics gave a big early boost by fueling hotels and restaurants, though many of those businesses faced saturation after the Games.

The city sits at a key crossroads in the western United States, with Interstate 15 acting as a major freight corridor. This location supports strong regional centers and distribution activity, including companies like Dannon Yogurt and Sysco. World War II helped grow employment, and Hill Air Force Base added to the area’s economic mix. Government at all levels remains a large employer in Salt Lake City, making up about one-fifth of jobs, alongside substantial employment in trade, transportation and utilities, and in professional and business services. The Delta Air Lines hub at Salt Lake City International Airport is a major local employer, and health and education services are also important sectors.

Big employers include the University of Utah, Sinclair Oil, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which runs a large set of operations through its Deseret Management Corporation and subsidiaries like Bonneville International. The city is known for its prominent call centers, with reservations for Marriott, Delta, Continental, JetBlue, and Sprint among the major operations. The LDS Church and related media and publishing activities help anchor the local economy as well.

Salt Lake City is also a growing banking hub, with Zions Bancorporation headquartered there and Utah’s allowance for commercial industrial banks bringing other financial firms into the region. In addition, high-tech firms with a presence in nearby suburbs—such as eBay, Unisys, Siebel, Iomega, and 3M—add to the economic mix.

Downtown Salt Lake City has seen increased residential and office development, supported by a strong convention market and easy access to outdoor recreation. The city’s large airport and ongoing business activity help attract visitors and workers, contributing to a daytime population that rises significantly beyond the city’s resident base.