Skilled Workforce and Talent

As of 2009, Charleston is the fastest growing mid-size metro for aircraft manufacturing in the U.S. (80% job growth) and one of the nation's Top 10 mid-size metros for workforce growth in key occupations such as aircraft mechanics, computer hardware engineers, and electrical engineers.


Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a growing number of graduate, undergraduate and certificate programs ranging from Aeronautical Science to Supply Chain Management.

Charleston has a deep pool of military & defense talent, with the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR), the Charleston Air Force Base, a growing base of defense contractors and 10,000+ ex-military and government employees, many with high security clearances. Much of this knowledge and experience has direct applications in the aviation/aerospace industry.

South Carolina Supports Business

S.C. has been ranked as one of the Top Five most business-friendly states for the past six years by the Pollina Corporation and as "one of the best places to do business" by a survey of site selection consultants conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI).

Competitive Wage Structure

The chart below provides wages typically associated with the aviation/aerospace sector, 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.

Reliable, Low Cost Energy

South Carolina's industrial electricity averages 20 - 25% below the U.S. average. The Charleston region is served by two generating electric utilities (Santee Cooper and SCANA/SCE&G) with a combined capacity of 10,275 megawatts, plus two electric cooperatives (Berkeley Electric and Edisto Electric).

Greater Charleston is also part of the South Carolina transmission grid, which is served by four generating utilities with a combined capacity of 19,721 megawatts. For natural gas transmission and distribution, the region is served by Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, a subsidiary of SCANA Corporation.