How big is manufacturing in California?

Manufacturing contributed $391B to California's economy in 2025, ranking #1 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of California's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 9.1% of California's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so California is less manufacturing-intensive than the national average.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in California?

Computer and Electronic Products leads at $132B (2025), followed by chemical products ($77.2B) and food, beverage, and tobacco products ($35.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in California growing?

California's manufacturing GDP is up 3.7% year over year in dollar terms and up 2.6% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does California make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in California: $249B versus $141B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in California

Manufacturing contributed $391B to California's economy in 2025 (9.1% of the state's GDP), ranking California #1 of 50 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output rose 3.7% year over year (+2.6% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is computer and electronic products ($132B in 2025).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $391B in 2025, #1 of 50 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 9.1% of California's GDP.
Growth: +3.7% year over year (+2.6% after inflation).
Composition: $249B durable goods, $141B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in California

Computer and Electronic Products: $132B (2025)
Chemical Products: $77.2B (2025)
Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $35.0B (2025)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in California? Manufacturing contributed $391B to California's economy in 2025, ranking #1 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of California's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 9.1% of California's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so California is less manufacturing-intensive than the national average.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in California? Computer and Electronic Products leads at $132B (2025), followed by chemical products ($77.2B) and food, beverage, and tobacco products ($35.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in California growing? California's manufacturing GDP is up 3.7% year over year in dollar terms and up 2.6% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does California make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in California: $249B versus $141B of value added in 2025.

About this data

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (public domain). National quarterly values are seasonally adjusted annual rates. Corporate-profit industry detail reflects inventory valuation adjustment without capital consumption adjustment, per NIPA table 6.16D conventions.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.