California Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in California account for 12.32% of the total output in the state, employing 7.55% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $394.83 billion in 2021. In addition, there were an average of 1,275,000 manufacturing employees in California in December 2021, with an average annual compensation of $134,355.88 in 2021.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2021)
$394.83
(Percent share of total gross state product)
12.32%
Manufacturing Firms in California (2019)
34,360

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (December 2021)
1,275,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
7.55%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2021)
$134,355.88
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2021)
$77,724.91

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

Figure 1

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California Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive the California economy, with $149.15 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2021)
$149.15
Top 5 Export Markets (total percentage 2021)
50.21%
Mexico
17.09%
Canada
10.00%
China
9.50%
Japan
6.92%
South Korea
6.69%

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

Figure 4

Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 49.38% ($690.92 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2021 – 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.