SAN DIEGO -- UC San Diego has a $7.2 billion annual impact on California's economy and generates about 39,000 jobs statewide, according to a study released Tuesday.

The university contributes $5.7 billion a year to San Diego County's economy and creates more than 33,600 jobs, according to the report conducted by San Francisco-based CBRE Consulting Inc.

"UC San Diego changes the lives of San Diegans and Californians every day, through job creation, advanced patient care, disease and drug therapies, service in the local community and world-renowned research and education," said UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox in a statement.

"This report demonstrates in hard numbers the powerful benefits created by our campus -- billions of dollars injected into the economy and tens of thousands of jobs created," she said. "When combined with our leading-edge research and education, this latest analysis clearly shows UC San Diego's local impact, national influence and global reach."

Companies started by UCSD faculty and alumni add $37 billion annually to the state's economy and lead to nearly 130,000 jobs, the report found.

Start-up companies have a $32 billion yearly impact on San Diego County's economy, generating nearly 115,000 jobs.

Faculty and alumni of UCSD have started 67 companies that are now operating in California, according to the report.

UCSD is the third-largest employer in San Diego County, paying more than $1.1 billion in salaries and wages to nearly 27,000 faculty, staff, health care and student workers.

"This report confirms UC San Diego plays a vital role in boosting our local economy, expanding our skilled workforce and driving the technological future of San Diego," said Mayor Jerry Sanders. "UC San Diego is an outstanding feature of our community's economic landscape."