Utility patents granted
46,040
2020 · USPTO patents by first-named inventor residing in California
Patents granted per 100,000 residents
127.7
2020 · USPTO total patents
Venture capital
$78,874 million
2023, inflation-adjusted
Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing jobs
85,161
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Scientific research & development employment (NAICS 5417)
183,043
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Share of U.S. venture capital
≈ 50%
R&D spending
$240,000 million
NSF
Tech workers
≈ 1,900,000
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Utility patents granted
1980–202358,000▲ 806%
USPTO.
Utility Patents
California inventors receive more utility patents than those in any other state.
Utility patents granted
46,040
2020 · USPTO patents by first-named inventor residing in California
Utility patents
49,637
2023 resident-inventor count
National rank
#1
Patents in 2020
51,500
Utility patents granted
1992–202046,040▲ 484%
USPTO patents by first-named inventor residing in California (FRED PATENTUSCAUTILITY).
Utility patents
1980–202349,637▲ 676%
USPTO-derived resident-inventor counts; methodology is held consistent within the series.
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Utility patents2023 USPTO-derived count | 49,637 | 346,152 |
- •California received more than three times the venture capital of second-place New York in 2023 (PitchBook-NVCA via StatsAmerica).
- •Electrical engineering accounted for 32,131 California patents in 2023, about 42.7% of the U.S. total in that field (Pioneer Institute/US DataLabs).
- •San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco are California's three largest historical patent hubs (USPTO-derived Patent Leaderboard).
Patents per Capita
California combines the country's largest patent volume with one of its highest invention rates.
Patents granted per 100,000 residents
127.7
2020 · USPTO total patents
Patents per 100,000
127.4
2023
Utility patents
49,637
Texas rate
39.3 per 100,000
Patents granted per 100,000 residents
1992–2020127.7▲ 333%
USPTO total patents (PATENTUSCATOTAL) divided by Census resident population (CAPOP).
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Patents per 100,0002023 | 127.4 | 103.3 |
- •California received more than three times the venture capital of second-place New York in 2023 (PitchBook-NVCA via StatsAmerica).
- •Electrical engineering accounted for 32,131 California patents in 2023, about 42.7% of the U.S. total in that field (Pioneer Institute/US DataLabs).
- •San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco are California's three largest historical patent hubs (USPTO-derived Patent Leaderboard).
Venture Capital
California remains the dominant U.S. market for venture investment.
Venture capital
$78,874 million
2023, inflation-adjusted
Share of U.S. total
46.2%
Second-place New York
$20,542 million
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Venture capital2023 | $78,874 million | $170,600 million |
- •California received more than three times the venture capital of second-place New York in 2023 (PitchBook-NVCA via StatsAmerica).
- •Electrical engineering accounted for 32,131 California patents in 2023, about 42.7% of the U.S. total in that field (Pioneer Institute/US DataLabs).
- •San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco are California's three largest historical patent hubs (USPTO-derived Patent Leaderboard).
Electrical Engineering Patents
Electrical engineering is California's largest patent technology field.
Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing jobs
85,161
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Average annual pay, semiconductor manufacturing
$399,775
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Electrical engineering patents
32,131
2023
Share of U.S. field
42.7%
State rank
#1
Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing jobs
2014–202585,161▼ 1%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 3344.
Average annual pay, semiconductor manufacturing
2014–2025$399,775▲ 212%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 3344.
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineering patent shareShare of national total | 42.7% | 100% |
- •California received more than three times the venture capital of second-place New York in 2023 (PitchBook-NVCA via StatsAmerica).
- •Electrical engineering accounted for 32,131 California patents in 2023, about 42.7% of the U.S. total in that field (Pioneer Institute/US DataLabs).
- •San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco are California's three largest historical patent hubs (USPTO-derived Patent Leaderboard).
Innovation Hubs
Bay Area and Southern California cities anchor the state's patent economy.
Scientific research & development employment (NAICS 5417)
183,043
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Computer systems design employment (NAICS 5415)
323,248
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
San Jose patents
293,137
Historical cumulative count
San Diego patents
238,248
San Francisco patents
228,769
Scientific research & development employment (NAICS 5417)
2014–2025183,043▲ 44%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, California, private ownership, annual average.
Computer systems design employment (NAICS 5415)
2014–2025323,248▲ 24%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, California, private ownership, annual average.
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Leading cityUSPTO-derived historical data | San Jose | California leads nationally |
- •California received more than three times the venture capital of second-place New York in 2023 (PitchBook-NVCA via StatsAmerica).
- •Electrical engineering accounted for 32,131 California patents in 2023, about 42.7% of the U.S. total in that field (Pioneer Institute/US DataLabs).
- •San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco are California's three largest historical patent hubs (USPTO-derived Patent Leaderboard).
More figures
Utility patents granted
≈ 58,000
1st in the U.S. (2023)