The Economic Impact of Life Science in California

The 2025 Biocom California Life Science Economic Impact Report, created in partnership with Deloitte and HSBC, provides data on the performance of the life science industry in California during 2024. The report includes an overview of the economic impact in terms of jobs, labor income and business output, along with key trends impacting the industry during the year.

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“California’s life science industry remains a cornerstone of economic vitality and a global leader in health innovation. Even amid economic tightening and political uncertainty, our sector continues to drive the discovery and delivery of life-changing treatments, medical devices and diagnostics around the world.”

Tim Scott

President and CEO, Biocom California

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California At-A-Glance

The life science industry has a wide-reaching economic impact in California. The industry supports 1.15 million jobs, $125.7 billion in labor and sole proprietor income and $395.7 billion in economic output. California-based life science companies led all states in attracting $63.1 billion in private capital, 67% of which was attributed to corporate M&A deals, with several $1 billion+ acquisitions.

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Bay Area Life Science Industry

The Bay Area region comprising nine counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma—directly employed 150,491 life science workers and contributed to $123.6 billion in economic output in 2024. Job gains were observed in colleges and universities and electromedical apparatus manufacturing.

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Greater Los Angeles Life Science Industry

The Los Angeles region comprises three counties—Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura—together employed 94,585 life science workers and contributed $60.2 billion in economic output in 2024. The largest employment gains came from surgical and medical instrument manufacturing, biotechnology R&D and colleges and universities.

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Orange County Life Science Industry

Orange County directly employed 60,986 life science workers in 2024 and contributed $44.8 billion in economic output. Electromedical apparatus, surgical appliances and supplies, irradiation equipment, and pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing led the way in job growth.

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San Diego Life Science Industry

The San Diego region directly employed 71,448 life science workers and contributed $54.1 billion in total economic output in 2024. San Diego continues to be a major life science innovation cluster, with a number of global companies opening new R&D and accelerator facilities in the region throughout the year.