Colorado Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Colorado account for 6.75% of the total output in the state, employing 5.71% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $26.52 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 152,000 manufacturing employees in Colorado in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $83,031.30 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$26.52
(Percent share of total gross state product)
6.75%
Manufacturing Firms in Colorado (2017)
4,871

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
152,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
5.71%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$83,031.30
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$52,850.08

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

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Colorado Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Colorado’s economy, with $7.94 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $3.16 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 24.00% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 87.00% percent of all exporters in Colorado.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$7.94
(Percent share of total goods exports)
95.87%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
35,858
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
24.00%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
87.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$3.16
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
39.78%
Canada
15.49%
Mexico
12.45%
Malaysia
7.35%
South Korea
6.40%
China
6.37%

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.