"Computer and video game companies play an ever increasing role in our nation's growing economy," said ESA CEO Michael Gallagher. "These companies and their colleagues across the nation are making entertainment software one of the fastest growing industries in the United States."

The study by Economists Incorporated for the Entertainment Software Association found that the industry directly employed 24,000 individuals as of 2006 with an average salary of $92,300. In that year, the industry added $3.8 billion to the U.S. GDP.

California, a hotbed for the gaming industry, employed 40% of the industry's workers last year. The state's gaming industry grew by 12.4 percent and added $1.7 billion to California's economy, the study found.