Life Sciences Sector Grows 20.8% in South Carolina
Healthcare employers across South Carolina face faster sector growth and higher pay benchmarks for technical and laboratory roles.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Healthcare
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South Carolina's life sciences industry generated an estimated $20.1 billion in economic activity in 2025, according to SCbio data, supporting 23,499 jobs across 2,811 establishments. For operators in the state's healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain, the figures point to a sector expanding faster than most of the economy.
Why it matters
Employment in the sector grew 20.8 percent from 2021 to 2025, compared with 7 percent nationally over the same period, and pharmaceutical manufacturing led that growth. Population growth across the Southeast is driving demand for pharmaceutical manufacturing in South Carolina, which is tightening competition for skilled labor and lab space.
The sector supported 23,499 jobs across 2,811 establishments in 2025, with average annual pay of $109,555. The research, testing, and medical laboratories subsector grew 52.4 percent in jobs during 2025, and the figures are SCbio's estimates rather than an independent audit.
The players
SCbio
The South Carolina life sciences industry association that compiles economic and employment data for the state's biomedical and pharmaceutical sector.
Octapharma
A Swiss-headquartered plasma-protein therapeutics manufacturer selecting York County for its first U.S. manufacturing facility.
The details
Pharmaceutical manufacturing led employment growth in the sector, which benefits from the state's established manufacturing infrastructure, a workforce built for technical production, and what SCbio describes as a competitive business environment. For a smaller healthcare operator, that combination tends to raise wage benchmarks for technical roles and pull qualified candidates toward the larger manufacturing employers. The sector's pay premium over the state's private-sector average is the figure most likely to shape hiring costs across adjacent healthcare employers.
Timeline
Sector employment growth was measured across 2021 to 2025.
SCbio compiled its 2025 economic activity and job data.
Octapharma selected York County for its first U.S. manufacturing facility in July 2026.
Market Landscape
The 20.8 percent sector employment growth outpaced the 7 percent national rate measured over the same 2021-2025 window, placing South Carolina's life sciences base ahead of the national trend. Octapharma's planned York County facility adds a major manufacturing anchor to a sector already expanding faster than most of the state's economy.
Healthcare operators in South Carolina should expect rising competition for technical and laboratory talent as the sector adds jobs and pay benchmarks climb. Suppliers and service providers near the Rock Hill and York County corridor may see new demand as Octapharma's facility moves toward operation.
The takeaway
The sector's pay premium and growth rate make talent retention the operating issue to plan around. Operators should track the wage and hiring data SCbio publishes in its next annual compilation to benchmark their own compensation against the sector.
Further reading
For broader context, explore the Healthcare coverage on how pharmaceutical manufacturing is reshaping South Carolina's business landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greenville Business Magazine.
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