Ihor Chopovskyi | Istock | Getty Images
California Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 226 | 26 | 25 | C+ |
| ECONOMY | 295 | 3 | 12 | A |
| WORKFORCE | 200 | 17 | 20 | C+ |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 147 | 29 | 32 | C |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 87 | 46 | 40 | D- |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 189 | 1 | 1 | A+ |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 60 | 47 | 48 | F |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 104 | 1 | 1 | A+ |
| EDUCATION | 53 | 20 | 31 | C+ |
| COST OF LIVING | 4 | 50 | 50 | F |
| OVERALL | 1365 | 17 | 22 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Gavin Newsom, Democrat
Population: 39,355,309
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 3.70%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 5.30%
Top corporate tax rate: 8.84% (10.84% for financial institutions)
Top individual income tax rate: 13.30%
Gasoline tax: 91.52 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aa2, Stable/AA-, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
