Fort Worth's "cowtown" image belies the aggressive business and industry that thrives in this city "where the West begins." The world's largest airline, American, is headquartered in Fort Worth out near the DFW International Airport. Lockheed-Martin Aerospace builds aircraft in the city, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, probably the U.S.'s largest rail operator, also calls Fort Worth home. One of the world's largest makers of helicopters, Bell-Textron, and electronics retailing giant RadioShack Corporation, are Fort Worth natives. Other major employers in Fort Worth include Game Stop, SABRE and Pier One Imports. The largest government employer is the Fort Worth Independent School District.

The Fort Worth sector of the DFW Metroplex economy has a workforce of 776,900 with unemployment at 4.8%. Oil and Gas exploration and production still has significant influence upon Fort Worth's economy, with large companies such as Range Resources, Encore Acquisitions, Matrix Energy and Burlington Resources involved in energy development. Tourism also plays a major role in the Fort Worth economy with more than $1 billion spent annually by visitors. As a major air hub, the DFW Airport accounts for a significant portion of Fort Worth's transportation-related business, but the city is also astride three major interstate highways and is still a major railroad center. Fort Worth is also a major supplier of grain products from the farms and ranches of West Texas, and in recent years has begun to develop a significant computer and high technology segment. Education, banking and health services also contribute to the city's economy.

In addition to DFW International Airport, Fort Worth has two other airports, Meacham, an in-town airfield located just north of downtown, and Alliance Airport, a recently-developed 17,000 acre commercial aviation center with maintenance facilities to support American Airlines and other carriers. Alliance has also developed warehouse, office and commercial properties and is growing into a major business, air cargo and trade center. Alliance is located 15 miles north and west of DFW Airport and is owned by the City of Fort Worth. It is serviced by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and nearby I-35W, the NAFTA superhighway that links Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.