How big is manufacturing in California?

Manufacturing contributed $385B to California's economy in 2025, ranking #1 of 51 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 9.4% 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 $129B (2024), followed by chemical products ($72.6B) and food, beverage, and tobacco products ($34.7B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in California growing?

California's manufacturing GDP is up 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does California make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in California: $244B versus $141B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in California

Manufacturing contributed $385B to California's economy in 2025 (9.1% of the state's GDP), ranking California #1 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output rose 0.8% year over year (+1.7% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is computer and electronic products ($129B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $385B in 2025, #1 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 9.1% of California's GDP.
Growth: +0.8% year over year (+1.7% after inflation).
Composition: $244B durable goods, $141B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in California

Computer and Electronic Products: $129B (2024)
Chemical Products: $72.6B (2024)
Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $34.7B (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in California? Manufacturing contributed $385B to California's economy in 2025, ranking #1 of 51 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 9.4% 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 $129B (2024), followed by chemical products ($72.6B) and food, beverage, and tobacco products ($34.7B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in California growing? California's manufacturing GDP is up 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does California make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in California: $244B 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 2026-05-12.