California Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in California account for 10.36% of the total output in the state, employing 7.57% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $324.43 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 1,222,000 manufacturing employees in California in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $112,381.20 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$324.43
(Percent share of total gross state product)
10.36%
Manufacturing Firms in California (2017)
35,321

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
1,222,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
7.57%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$112,381.20
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$61,256.85

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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California Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive California’s economy, with $133.75 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $56.00 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 25.20% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 96.00% percent of all exporters in California.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$133.75
(Percent share of total goods exports)
85.68%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
632,370
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
25.20%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
96.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$56.00
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
41.87%
Mexico
17.09%
Canada
9.78%
China
9.64%
Japan
6.99%
South Korea
6.26%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.