Colorado Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Colorado account for 6.58% of the total output in the state, employing 5.36% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $28.88 billion in 2021. In addition, there were an average of 149,000 manufacturing employees in Colorado in December 2021, with an average annual compensation of $91,132.28 in 2021.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2021)
$28.88
(Percent share of total gross state product)
6.58%
Manufacturing Firms in Colorado (2019)
4,917

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (December 2021)
149,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
5.36%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2021)
$91,132.28
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2021)
$62,438.96

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

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Colorado Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive the Colorado economy, with $8.60 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2021)
$8.60
Top 5 Export Markets (total percentage 2021)
56.05%
Canada
17.56%
Mexico
15.41%
China
10.50%
South Korea
6.86%
Malaysia
5.72%

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.