When you think of South Carolina, you likely imagine its beaches and historic charm, but the state's thriving manufacturing sector—a powerhouse contributing over $28 billion to the GDP and employing hundreds of thousands—is the driving force behind its modern economy.
Key Takeaways
- South Carolina's manufacturing sector contributed $28.4 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 17.2% of total GDP.
- In 2023, South Carolina had 3,892 manufacturing establishments employing over 278,000 workers.
- The average annual wage in South Carolina manufacturing was $62,450 in 2023.
- BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg produced 410,500 vehicles in 2023.
- South Carolina's automotive industry supports 288,000 jobs directly and indirectly as of 2023.
- SC exported $12.4 billion in vehicles and parts in 2022.
- Boeing South Carolina delivered 178 aircraft from North Charleston in 2023.
- SC aerospace and defense industry employs 45,000 directly as of 2023.
- Boeing's North Charleston campus spans 2.1 million sq ft with 6,000 employees.
- South Carolina produced 1.8 million broilers weekly in 2023.
- SC agriculture GDP contribution was $9.5 billion in 2022.
- Soybean production in SC reached 12.5 million bushels in 2023.
- Tourism in South Carolina generated $29.5 billion in economic impact in 2023.
- SC welcomed 32.5 million visitors in 2023, up 4% from 2022.
- Hospitality and food services employed 280,000 in SC 2023.
South Carolina's diverse manufacturing industries powerfully drive its economy and employment.
Aerospace
- Boeing South Carolina delivered 178 aircraft from North Charleston in 2023.
- SC aerospace and defense industry employs 45,000 directly as of 2023.
- Boeing's North Charleston campus spans 2.1 million sq ft with 6,000 employees.
- SC exported $4.2 billion in aerospace products in 2022.
- Sonaca North America in Greenville manufactures 787 wing components.
- SC ranks top 10 U.S. states for aviation manufacturing jobs per capita.
- GE Aerospace in Pee Dee region overhauls engines for 500 aircraft yearly.
- Triumph Group in Vought Works, SC produces aerostructures for fighters.
- SC's aerospace cluster has 400 companies generating $18 billion impact.
- Spirit AeroSystems in SC facility supports 787 fuselage production.
- Honeywell in SC develops avionics for commercial jets.
- SC Defense Corridor includes 200 firms with $10B contracts in 2022.
- Blackbaud in SC supports defense software for simulations.
- SC aviation fuel production supports 1.5 million gallons daily.
- Detyens Shipyards in Charleston services 100+ vessels yearly for navy.
- SC Spaceport at Wallops hosts 50 rocket launches planned 2024-2028.
- Collins Aerospace in SC produces cockpit systems for Boeing.
- SC's unmanned systems sector grew 20% employing 2,500 in 2023.
- L3Harris in Greenville manufactures night vision for military aircraft.
- SC aerospace R&D investment hit $800 million in 2022.
- Technical College of the Lowcountry trains 1,000 aerospace workers yearly.
- Boeing invested $1 billion in SC supply chain since 2011.
Aerospace Interpretation
While Boeing's 178 annual deliveries from North Charleston might be the most visible sign of South Carolina's aerospace ascension, the true altitude of the industry is better measured by its sprawling 400-company ecosystem, which deftly manufactures everything from fighter jet components to avionics, fuels a daily arsenal of aircraft, trains thousands of workers, and even launches rockets, collectively stitching together a $18 billion tapestry of innovation, defense, and economic lift across the Palmetto State.
Agriculture
- South Carolina produced 1.8 million broilers weekly in 2023.
- SC agriculture GDP contribution was $9.5 billion in 2022.
- Soybean production in SC reached 12.5 million bushels in 2023.
- SC ranks 12th U.S. in turkey production with 28 million birds in 2022.
- Cotton yield in SC averaged 1,050 lbs/acre in 2023 harvest.
- SC greenhouse/nursery sales totaled $450 million in 2022.
- Poultry employs 62,000 in SC agribusiness as of 2023.
- SC corn production 25 million bushels on 200,000 acres in 2023.
- Peanut acreage in SC 45,000 acres yielding 2.8 million lbs in 2022.
- Forestry covers 67% of SC land, 12.5 million acres timberland.
- SC tobacco production 5.2 million lbs on 4,500 acres 2022.
- Aquaculture in SC generated $120 million, led by catfish in 2023.
- SC wheat harvest 8.4 million bushels in 2023.
- Livestock receipts $1.2 billion, cattle $450 million in SC 2022.
- SC sweet potato production 12,000 tons annually average.
- Dairy cows in SC number 12,000 producing 200 million lbs milk 2023.
- SC hay production 1.5 million tons from 250,000 acres 2022.
- Fruit/nut crops sales $180 million in SC 2022 census.
- SC beekeeping 45,000 colonies producing 3.2 million lbs honey.
- Vegetable acreage 25,000 acres, tomatoes lead at 5,000 acres.
- SC ag exports $1.1 billion in 2022, top poultry/soy.
- Timber harvest 1.2 billion cubic feet annually in SC.
- SC farm income net $1.4 billion in 2023.
- Number of farms 43,000 average 200 acres each in 2022.
- Organic sales in SC $89 million growing 15% yearly.
- SC horse industry 35,000 horses, $1.2B economic impact.
Agriculture Interpretation
South Carolina’s agriculture is a powerhouse of clucking, mooing, and growing, where the forests are deep, the peanuts are plenty, and the economic engine hums louder than a hive of 45,000 bees.
Automotive
- BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg produced 410,500 vehicles in 2023.
- South Carolina's automotive industry supports 288,000 jobs directly and indirectly as of 2023.
- SC exported $12.4 billion in vehicles and parts in 2022.
- Volvo Cars' Ridgeville plant has capacity for 150,000 vehicles annually starting 2024.
- SC has over 25 automotive OEM and supplier plants as of 2023.
- Automotive manufacturing contributed $24.6 billion to SC GDP in 2022.
- Michelin employs 8,000 in SC across 7 plants producing 1.2 million tires daily.
- SC's automotive cluster includes 450 suppliers generating $40 billion economic impact.
- BMW Spartanburg invested $1.7 billion in 2023 for EV production.
- SC ranks 5th in U.S. for vehicle exports with 350,000 exported in 2022.
- Freightliner Custom Chassis in Gaffney produces 40,000 chassis yearly.
- SC automotive employment grew 3.5% to 52,000 direct jobs in 2023.
- Toyota builds battery plant in Liberty, SC, capacity 20 GWh annually by 2025.
- SC's Port of Charleston handled 250,000 vehicles in FY2023.
- Bosch employs 3,000 in North Charleston for automotive electronics.
- SC produced 1.2 million SUVs from BMW plant in 2023.
- General Motors has a $2 billion metal stamping plant in Greenville County.
- SC automotive R&D centers employ 5,000 engineers as of 2023.
- ZF Group in Gray Court produces axles for 500,000 vehicles yearly.
- SC's automotive supply chain spans 1,200 companies statewide.
- Kysor Warren in Jacksonville, FL but SC ops produce refrigeration for trucks.
- Navistar in SC supports 10,000 truck jobs indirectly.
- SC EV infrastructure includes 1,200 chargers, growing 50% in 2023.
- Cummins in Rocky Mount, SC facility produces turbochargers for autos.
- SC auto parts exports hit $10 billion in 2022.
Automotive Interpretation
South Carolina's automotive industry has confidently shifted into high gear, proving it's no mere pit stop on the global stage by fueling a quarter-million jobs, exporting billions in precision machinery, and electrifying its future with massive investments, all while ensuring nearly every SUV on the road wears a tire or part born from the Palmetto State.
Manufacturing
- South Carolina's manufacturing sector contributed $28.4 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 17.2% of total GDP.
- In 2023, South Carolina had 3,892 manufacturing establishments employing over 278,000 workers.
- The average annual wage in South Carolina manufacturing was $62,450 in 2023.
- South Carolina ranks 6th in the U.S. for manufacturing job concentration with 12.4% of workforce in manufacturing as of 2022.
- Chemical manufacturing in SC generated $8.2 billion in shipments in 2021.
- Fabricated metal product manufacturing employed 25,600 workers in SC in 2022.
- SC's plastics and rubber products manufacturing output reached $7.1 billion in 2022.
- Machinery manufacturing in South Carolina had 1,200 establishments in 2021.
- Food manufacturing sector in SC produced $12.5 billion in value of shipments in 2022.
- Computer and electronic product manufacturing grew by 4.2% in employment in SC from 2021-2022.
- SC manufacturing exports totaled $32.7 billion in 2022, led by chemicals and machinery.
- Primary metal manufacturing in SC employed 8,400 workers with $4.6 billion output in 2022.
- Electrical equipment manufacturing saw a 15% growth in SC shipments to $2.8 billion in 2022.
- Paper manufacturing in South Carolina produced 1.2 million tons annually as of 2023.
- Textile mills in SC generated $1.9 billion in products in 2021.
- Furniture and related product manufacturing employed 12,300 in SC in 2022.
- Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing output was $3.4 billion in SC 2022.
- Printing and related support activities in SC had 450 firms in 2022.
- Apparel manufacturing employment in SC declined to 4,200 workers in 2023.
- Wood product manufacturing in SC produced $2.1 billion in value in 2022.
- SC's manufacturing productivity grew 2.8% annually from 2018-2022.
- Transportation equipment manufacturing (excl. auto) employed 15,000 in SC 2022.
- Miscellaneous manufacturing sector in SC had $1.5 billion shipments in 2022.
- Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing output $3.2 billion in SC 2022.
- Leather and allied product manufacturing minimal at 500 jobs in SC 2023.
- Petroleum and coal products manufacturing $5.6 billion in SC 2022.
- SC manufacturing energy consumption was 142 trillion BTU in 2021.
- Medical equipment manufacturing grew 12% in SC employment 2021-2022.
- SC's top manufacturing county, Greenville, had 45,000 jobs in 2022.
- Manufacturing R&D spending in SC reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
Manufacturing Interpretation
South Carolina's manufacturing sector is not just humming along—it's a symphony of heavy industry and high-paying jobs that proves you can still make things like a boss while being bossed around by chemical shipments and machinery exports.
Tourism
- Tourism in South Carolina generated $29.5 billion in economic impact in 2023.
- SC welcomed 32.5 million visitors in 2023, up 4% from 2022.
- Hospitality and food services employed 280,000 in SC 2023.
- Myrtle Beach area tourism revenue $18 billion annually.
- SC state parks hosted 8.2 million visitors in FY2023.
- Charleston tourism supports 55,000 jobs, $12B impact 2023.
- SC golf courses 350+ attracting 12 million rounds yearly.
- Hotel room inventory in SC 85,000 rooms, occupancy 68% 2023.
- SC beaches draw 10 million visitors to Hilton Head annually.
- Arts/culture tourism generated $2.1 billion in SC 2022.
- SC river/lake recreation supports $1.5B economy yearly.
- Convention business in SC filled 2.5 million hotel rooms 2023.
- Heritage tourism sites like Fort Sumter 800,000 visitors 2023.
- SC fishing charter industry $450 million revenue 2023.
- Wedding tourism in SC 45,000 weddings, $1.2B spend 2022.
- Ecotourism trails like Palmetto Trail 1.4 million hiker days.
- SC music festivals attract 2 million attendees yearly.
- Cruise passengers at Charleston Port 300,000 in 2023.
- Rural tourism agritourism farms 500+ generating $100M.
- SC adventure tourism zip lines/kayak $300M impact.
- International visitors to SC 1.2 million pre-pandemic levels 2023.
- Gaming/tourism at Catawba Two Kings 1 million visitors 2023.
- SC film industry tourism boost $500M from productions.
- Birdwatching in SC attracts 400,000 visitors $120M spend.
Tourism Interpretation
South Carolina's economy doesn't just run on sunshine and sweet tea; it's propped up by a relentless, multi-billion-dollar hospitality machine fueled by everything from golf balls and wedding cakes to historical reenactments and zip-line screams.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 2CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 3BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 4NCSLncsl.orgVisit source
- Reference 5DATAdata.bls.govVisit source
- Reference 6ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 7TRADEtrade.govVisit source
- Reference 8DATAdata.census.govVisit source
- Reference 9AFANDPAafandpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 10EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 11SCCOMMERCEsccommerce.comVisit source
- Reference 12GREENVILLECHAMBERgreenvillechamber.orgVisit source
- Reference 13NCSESncses.nsf.govVisit source
- Reference 14BMWGROUPbmwgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 15OCEANEXoceanex.comVisit source
- Reference 16VOLVOCARSvolvocars.comVisit source
- Reference 17SCAUTOMAKERSscautomakers.comVisit source
- Reference 18MICHELINMANmichelinman.comVisit source
- Reference 19NEMAnema.orgVisit source
- Reference 20BMWUSFACTORYbmwusfactory.comVisit source
- Reference 21PORTOFCHARLESTONportofcharleston.comVisit source
- Reference 22DAIMLERTRUCKSdaimlertrucks.comVisit source
- Reference 23PRESSROOMpressroom.toyota.comVisit source
- Reference 24SCSPAscspa.comVisit source
- Reference 25BOSCHbosch.usVisit source
- Reference 26BMWBLOGbmwblog.comVisit source
- Reference 27GMgm.comVisit source
- Reference 28ZFzf.comVisit source
- Reference 29SCAUTOCLUSTERscautocluster.comVisit source
- Reference 30KYSORWARRENkysorwarren.comVisit source
- Reference 31NAVISTARnavistar.comVisit source
- Reference 32AFDCafdc.energy.govVisit source
- Reference 33CUMMINScummins.comVisit source
- Reference 34INVESTORSinvestors.boeing.comVisit source
- Reference 35BOEINGboeing.comVisit source
- Reference 36AEROSCaerosc.orgVisit source
- Reference 37SONACAsonaca.comVisit source
- Reference 38AIA-AEROSPACEaia-aerospace.orgVisit source
- Reference 39GEAEROSPACEgeaerospace.comVisit source
- Reference 40TRIUMPHGROUPtriumphgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 41SCAEROSPACEscaerospace.orgVisit source
- Reference 42SPIRITAEROspiritaero.comVisit source
- Reference 43AEROSPACEaerospace.honeywell.comVisit source
- Reference 44BLACKBAUDblackbaud.comVisit source
- Reference 45DETYENSdetyens.comVisit source
- Reference 46SCSPACEPORTscspaceport.comVisit source
- Reference 47COLLINSAEROSPACEcollinsaerospace.comVisit source
- Reference 48AUVSIauvsi.orgVisit source
- Reference 49L3HARRISl3harris.comVisit source
- Reference 50TCLtcl.eduVisit source
- Reference 51NASSnass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 52CLEMSONclemson.eduVisit source
- Reference 53QUICKSTATSquickstats.nass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 54SCSTATEHOUSEscstatehouse.govVisit source
- Reference 55USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 56FISHERIESfisheries.noaa.govVisit source
- Reference 57AGRICULTUREagriculture.sc.govVisit source
- Reference 58FASfas.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 59SCTIMBERsctimber.orgVisit source
- Reference 60SCHORSEschorse.orgVisit source
- Reference 61SCPRTscprt.comVisit source
- Reference 62VISITMYRTLEBEACHvisitmyrtlebeach.comVisit source
- Reference 63SOUTHCAROLINAPARKSsouthcarolinaparks.comVisit source
- Reference 64CHARLESTONCHAMBERcharlestonchamber.orgVisit source
- Reference 65SCGOLFCOURSEscgolfcourse.comVisit source
- Reference 66STRstr.comVisit source
- Reference 67HILTONHEADISLANDhiltonheadisland.orgVisit source
- Reference 68SCARTSCOMMISSIONscartscommission.orgVisit source
- Reference 69AMERICANWHITEWATERamericanwhitewater.orgVisit source
- Reference 70DISCOVERSOUTHCAROLINAdiscoversouthcarolina.comVisit source
- Reference 71NPSnps.govVisit source
- Reference 72SALTWATERSPORTSMANsaltwatersportsman.comVisit source
- Reference 73THEKNOTtheknot.comVisit source
- Reference 74PALMETTOTRAILpalmettotrail.orgVisit source
- Reference 75SCMUSICscmusic.orgVisit source
- Reference 76OUTDOORSOUTHCAROLINAoutdoorsouthcarolina.comVisit source
- Reference 77TWOKINGSCASINOtwokingscasino.comVisit source
- Reference 78SCFILMCOMMISSIONscfilmcommission.comVisit source
- Reference 79SCBIRDSscbirds.orgVisit source