Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

Printed from www.crda.org

Advanced Security Testimonial: SAIC

Top 10 fastest-growing mid-size metro for software industries and occupations

The Charleston region is home to nearly every U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security agency, including the Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR Atlantic). These agencies engage complex information systems to respond to current military security needs and to build the next generation of weapons, security and monitoring systems.

High-tech systems and installations developed by the U.S. military often find a home in private industry. As such, Charleston sustains strong, innovative software development and information technology industries.


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Growing, Technically-Skilled Workforce

Cited by Forbes Magazine in 2009 as one of the Best Cities in the U.S. for Technology Jobs", Charleston offers a growing pool of highly-skilled technical workers, including software engineers, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, computer programmers, developers and technicians.

Local colleges and universities offer an array of relevant degree programs ranging from electrical engineering and computer science to discovery informatics and biochemistry. The Wall Street Journal just named the Charleston region as the #1 U.S. Metro for Growth in College Degrees over the past 10 years.

Charleston is one of the fastest growing mid size metros for software industries and occupations*:
  • Top 10 fastest-growing software development region in U.S.
  • Top 10 fastest-growing mid-size metro for computer hardware engineers (#1), computer research scientists (#2), statisticians (#3), computer operators (#3), graphic designers (#5), computer programmers (#8), and electrical engineers (#10)
  • Fourth highest per capita concentration in U.S. for computer research scientists and #7th for computer hardware engineers
*(Out of 125 mid-sized metros, 2006-2009). Source: Avalanche Consulting Headlight Data System

Extensive Military & Defense Talent

The Charleston region is home to more than 18,000 ex-military, civilian and government employees, many with high-level security clearances.

For example, SPAWAR Atlantic employs more than 2,000 knowledge workers, of which 500+ earned master's or Ph.D. degrees in computer and engineering disciplines. Much of this military and defense-related knowledge and experience has direct applications in the advanced security industry.

Other advanced security federal agencies in Charleston include: Joint Base Charleston, U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department of Justice, and Department of Energy. Hundreds of defense contractors are located here as well, including Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) and BAE Systems.

With an estimated $8 billion in defense contracts completed since 2000, greater Charleston remains a prime location for practical testing and pilot initiatives for security solutions firms.

Supportive Entrepreneurial Environment

Charleston Digital Corridor seeks to attract, nurture & promote Charleston's knowledge economy by facilitating a business, physical and social environment where technology companies thrive. With two burgeoning technology "incubators" (The Flagship and FS2), the Digital Corridor serves as a portal to government, infrastructure, real estate, education, venture capital, professional resources and a trained workforce.
SC Launch, a South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) collaboration, was created to facilitate applied research, product development and commercialization programs, and to strengthen South Carolina's Knowledge Economy by creating high wage-earning jobs. SC Launch offers qualifying companies commercialization support, guidance and seed funding, and was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the 2010 Top Five Entrepreneurial Support Programs in the U.S..

Strategic Location, Affordable Real Estate

Charleston's technology corridors offer beautiful campus environments, state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure, and quick access to the international airport and Interstate system.

Competitive wage structure

The chart below provides wages typically associated with the advanced security/information technology sectors, or visit our workforce and employment page to access a more comprehensive list of average wages by occupation (BLS data).

For a local wage & benefit survey broken down by industry sector and company size contact Hank Taylor, V.P. Global Business Development, at 843.760.4526 or htaylor@crda.org, at the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.

Advanced Security/IT Cluster, Select Occupations, Charleston S.C. MSA

Occupation Code  Occupation Title  2011 Average Hourly Wage  2011 Median Hourly Wage 
11-1021 General & Operations Managers $52.74 $44.26
11-9041 Engineering Managers $45.56 $42.87
13-1111 Management Analysts $36.74 $33.28
15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists $39.61 $38.38
15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts $30.90 $30.51
15-1131 Computer Programmers $31.64 $29.82
15-1132 Software Developers - Applications $36.14 $38.07
15-1133 Software Developers - Systems Software $36.83 $34.86
15-1141 Database Administrators $32.70 $30.04
15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators $30.35 $30.86
15-1150 Computer Support Specialists $22.78 $21.50
15-1179 Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects $36.25 $34.02
15-2031 Operations Research Analysts $39.22 $36.34
15-2041 Statisticians $28.40 $27.26
17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers $43.09 $42.77
17-2071 Electrical Engineers $38.72 $38.20
17-2072 Electronics Engineers (Except Computer) $45.49 $47.04
17-3012 Electrical & Electronics Drafters $25.48 $24.53
17-3023 Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technicians $35.34 $35.99
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/2012.


Advanced Security/IT Cluster Firms in the Charleston S.C. MSA

Company  Web Address  Product/Service 
ADVANCED SECURITY
Allied Technology Group, Inc. www.alliedtech.com Information management solutions with focus on communications, collaboration, emergency response, network security, and homeland defense
BAE Systems EI&S North Charleston www.baesystems.com Electronic security and communications systems design, manufacturing and integration
Barling Bay, LLC www.barlingbay.com Systems engineering, information assurance/security, research and development
Booz Allen Hamilton www.boozallen.com Systems engineering and information assurance services
CACI www.caci.com Network systems and security
CommIT Enterprises Inc. www.commitent.com System design, engineering and integration; physical, technical and cyber security
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) www.csc.com Design, engineering, and full service global IT and telecommunications systems, services and operations
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) www.ctc.com C4ISR engineering and intelligence services
General Dynamics Land Systems - Force Protection www.gdls.com Designer, developer & mfr of blast- & ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles; blast technology & counter-IED research
General Dynamics Information Technology www.gdit.com Systems integration and information technology
ISHPI Information Technologies, Inc. www.ishpi.net Systems engineering, information assurance, cyber security and related services
L-3 Communications www.l-3com.com/ C3ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), advanced electronic systems
Lockheed Martin Information Technology www.lockheedmartin.com Network security, systems engineering/integration, maintenance/repair, information assurance
MANDEX Inc. www.mandex.com Information Technology (IT) & Assurance (IA); Command, Control Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) design and integration
ManTech International www.mantech.com Information technology and technical services
Modus 21 www.modus21.com Business Process Management (BPM) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) services
ProSoft (Professional Software Engineering Inc) www.prosoft.tv C4I Systems integration, engineering, information technology
QinetiQ www.qinetiq-na.com Systems engineering and integration
SAIC www.saic.com System engineering and integration services
Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) www.scires.com Communications, electronic systems and equipment design and integration
SPARC, LLC www.sparcedge.com Full software development life-cycle support and software product development services for commercial, federal and defense contractor sectors
UEC Electronics www.uec-electronics.com Electronics and electro-mechanical design, engineering and assembly
VT Milcom www.vt-group.com Engineering, IT and technical services, fabrication and assembly of communications systems
Ware On Earth Communications, Inc. www.wareonearth.com Information assurance, system integration, network engineering, and enterprise architecture & infrastructure
IT/SOFTWARE
AAI Corporation www.aaicorp.com Software/hardware design and production; flight simulators
Agilex Technologies Inc www.agilex.com Software development and management and support for large systems engineering projects
Automated Trading Desk (ATD), a Citi Company www.atdesk.com Custom computer programming technology specializing in trading equity securities
Avista Solutions Inc. www.avistasolutions.com Producer of Web-based mortgage origination software
avVenta Worldwide www.avventa.com Digital production and interactive services
Benefitfocus www.benefitfocus.com Custom benefits software
Bibliolabs LLC www.bibliolabs.com Hybrid software-media company
Blackbaud, Inc. www.blackbaud.com Software development and services
BoomTown www.boomtownroi.com Leads management software geared for the real estate industry
Centurum www.centurum.com Systems integration, logistics support, information
CGI www.cgi.com Systems engineering, computer related
CodeLynx LLC www.codelynx.com Full service security solutions provider specializing in custom access control & video surveillance systems design & integration
CreateSpace www.createspace.com On-demand book publishing, printing, fulfillment and distribution
eSite Inc. www.esite-usa.com Site location consulting firm with spatial analytics specialty
Google, Inc. http://www.google.com/datacenter/berkeleycounty/index.html Data center for Internet search portal, email and other information services
ICF Consulting Group Inc www.icfi.com Computer software development
Immedion www.immedion.com Data center: enterprise hosting, colocation, cloud services
InfoArch LLC www.Info-Arch.com Custom software development and consulting firm
Life Cycle Engineering Inc. www.lce.com Engineering and applied technology solutions
ModernTech www.moderntechmech.com 3D technology products and services in support of manufacturing, mechanical design & engineering; rapid prototyping services available
Modulant www.modulant.com Software developer; systems integration
NextGen Technologies Inc www.nextgenusa.com Design, installation and support of residential and commercial automation, security and monitoring systems
Odyssey Systems www.odysseyconsult.com Communications engineering support - from planning, certification, and integration through deployment and operational sustainment
PeopleMatter www.peoplematter.com Develops software that helps service-industry businesses manage human resources functions
PSSI www.pssiconsulting.com Information systems services including IT staffing services
Robocom Systems International www.cambarsolutions.com Supply chain software and system developer
ROK Technologies www.roktech.net Internet & geographical information (GIS) systems applications
Shippers Commonwealth (ShippComm) www.shipperscommonwealth.com Automated on-demand transportation planning and management systems
Twelve South LLC www.twelvesouth.com Design accessories exclusively for Apple products
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 4/2013