State
Businesses in California by trade
1,029,689 employer establishments in 2023, employing 16,405,436 people (+9.4% establishments since 2017).
CALIFORNIA · ALL INDUSTRIES
1,029,689
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 16,405,436
- Average per site
- 15.9
- Change since 2017
- +9.4%
- Annual payroll
- $1429.2 billion
The 12 trades in California
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 31,333 | 628,541 | +0.5% | 1 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 13,412 | 165,621 | +20.7% | 1 |
| Beauty salons | 8,733 | 33,898 | +17.9% | 1 |
| Barber shops | 594 | 2,273 | +47.0% | 4 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 11,686 | 126,947 | +14.6% | 1 |
| Roofing contractors | 2,926 | 23,903 | +32.2% | 1 |
| Landscaping services | 9,393 | 103,803 | +10.8% | 2 |
| Janitorial services | 6,956 | 116,330 | +27.1% | 1 |
| Child day care | 9,670 | 89,288 | +12.4% | 1 |
| General auto repair | 9,799 | 46,943 | +2.4% | 1 |
| Fitness centers | 5,371 | 86,970 | +22.2% | 1 |
| Pet care services | 2,591 | 17,383 | +34.6% | 1 |
Largest industry groups in California
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 143,863 | 1,430,821 | +13.0% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 97,677 | 1,018,478 | +16.4% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 88,778 | 1,529,684 | +7.3% |
| Real Estate | 58,906 | 250,572 | +16.3% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 53,834 | 582,703 | +15.2% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 46,260 | 1,684,441 | +6.9% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 33,350 | 194,559 | +22.2% |
| Construction of Buildings | 29,852 | 207,617 | +20.5% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 29,632 | 467,679 | −8.5% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 25,385 | 156,362 | +3.1% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 24,672 | 252,903 | +2.4% |
| Truck Transportation | 24,075 | 159,689 | +102.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.