Life Sciences in California: A Key Economic Engine
California Life Sciences (CLS) recently released their 2025 sector report. From biotech breakthroughs to pandemic response leadership, California's life sciences sector is one of the most dynamic in the world. Among the highlights:
The life sciences industry contributes over $400 billion annually to California’s economy, spanning biotech, diagnostics, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.
With 300,000+ direct high-paying jobs and 1M+ total jobs across the state, it’s a major force for employment. Average salaries exceed $100,000/year.
Home to the UC system, Stanford, Caltech, Scripps, and more, California historically leads the nation in NIH funding and consistently attracts billions in venture capital for HealthTech.
California exports tens of billions in BioTech and MedTech products, reaching markets around the world.
From Gilead to Illumina, California companies were central to the global COVID-19 response, and continue to lead in addressing health crises.
Even in downturns, the sector remains strong, with AI-driven technologies, precision medicine, and more fueling the next wave of growth.
If you're building, investing in, or supporting innovation in the life sciences, there's a good change California is where it’s happening.