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Life Sciences Companies Eye Greenville for Strong Talent Pool, Experts Say

Life sciences continues to be the fastest-growing industry in South Carolina.

The industry has experienced 42% growth in the state since 2017 and has an annual economic impact of $25.7 billion, according to the South Carolina Biotechnology Innovation Organization or SCbio. 

Greenville has specifically emerged as a thriving innovation hub for medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies within the life sciences sector. Several life sciences companies have relocated or announced plans to move into the Upstate over the last several years. 

The most recent example is Samaritan Biologics, a Tennessee-based medical technology company specializing in human amniotic allograft products. The company plans to open a $5 million manufacturing facility in Greenville County and create 85 new jobs in the market.

Sam Konduros, president and CEO of Greenville City Economic Development Corp., said life science companies pay some of the highest salaries and wages of any industry – well above the average pay rates in Greenville. According to SCbio, the average wage of a life sciences job is $87,369, 79% higher than the average wage in the state. 

Economic development and industry leaders point to one key asset that makes Greenville appealing for life sciences companies: the quality of local talent. Greenville ranked among the top 20 markets in the nation for life sciences manufacturing talent, according to a report released by CBRE in June 2024.

Max Stewart, CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corp., explained there is a strong talent pipeline coming out of the 26 local colleges and universities in the Upstate. Some main examples include Clemson University, University of South Carolina Upstate, Furman University and Greenville Technical College. 

Read more about life sciences in the Upstate of South Carolina

When helping companies move to the area, Stewart and his team encourage the life sciences companies to recruit locally and partner with higher education institutions to ensure they are producing the type of talent they need. 

“If we aren’t producing the right talent, we’re not going to recruit these companies,” Stewart said. “We do a really good job of that in the Upstate of tailoring the students to the companies because that’s who needs the workforce.”

James Chappell, president and CEO of SCbio, explained that not only does Upstate South Carolina have great access to talent, but the quality of life for that talent is also strong. This is helpful for the life sciences companies to recruit talent to stay in the area. 

“I think it’s easy to recruit talent to Greenville. It’s not a hard sell once you get people to come,” Chappell said. “Once you start building that community, it just kind of snowballs.”

Talent pipeline

Approximately 923 degrees in biological and biomedical sciences were completed at colleges and universities in the Greenville area in 2024. 

  • Bachelor’s degrees: 742
  • Master’s degrees: 149
  • Doctorate: 32

Source: CBRE’s U.S. Life Sciences Talent Trends 2024

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By the numbers – South Carolina’s life sciences industry

$25.7 billion annual economic impact

$87,369 average wage

87,000 people directly or indirectly employed by life science companies

42% industry growth since 2017

2 times faster employment growth than the Southeastern average

Source: SCbio

Written by: Megan Fitzgerald, Upstate Business Journal

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Paige Durham

SCbio is pleased to welcome Paige Durham to the team as communications coordinator to creatively and effectively communicate the value of the life science association’s programs and initiatives.

Durham will be responsible for developing and distributing high-quality content across multiple communications channels to build, advance and grow South Carolina’s life sciences industry, a key business sector for economic prosperity for the Palmetto State.

“SCbio is excited to welcome Paige to our team as our new communications coordinator. Paige brings fresh ideas and a strong background in communications that will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our engagement with our audience,” said SCbio President and CEO James Chappell. “We are confident that her skills and experience will be crucial in advancing our communication strategies and supporting our mission.”

Before joining SCbio, Durham was the Membership and Communications Manager at the South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA), where she used her photography, design and writing skills to create content tailored to pharmacy professionals. Durham’s effective communication skills guaranteed the delivery of brand-specific material that captured the eye of her audience.

During her time at SCPhA, Durham created and edited the Palmetto Pharmacist Journal, using her creative vision to showcase members, educational institutions and industry news. Her communications efforts successfully gained new followers for the organization over the course of a year, increasing brand visibility and promoting the pharmacy profession.

Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in hospitality and tourism management and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the College of Charleston.

Tamia Sumpter

Tamia is a driven senior undergraduate Bioengineering student currently enrolled at Clemson University. With a strong foundation in her field, she has honed her skills through hands-on experience in research and development at Eli Lilly & Company. During her time in the ADME department, Tamia contributed significantly by working on siRNAs and their applications in finding In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation (IVIVC). Looking ahead, Tamia has set her sights on a promising career in law. She aspires to specialize in Intellectual Property Law, with a particular focus on serving as in-house counsel for leading medical device or pharmaceutical companies. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable as she prepares to embark on her legal journey! She is also a proud member of the Omicron Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PEER Mentor for Clemson PEER/WiSE, and currently serves as the President of Clemson Bioengineering Organization (CBO). With her unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal interests, Tamia is poised to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and life sciences industries.