Florence, SC & the Pee Dee Region
Your Community Guide
29501 · The Community Hub
Florence has a growing economy anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, education, and logistics. Here is your guide to finding work in the Pee Dee region.
Last reviewed: June 2026. Verify wages, tuition, and openings directly with the employer or school before you count on them.
Finding work looks different depending on where you're starting from. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Your options in Florence, no four-year degree required.
Professional roles and how to land them locally.
Who hires your credential right here.
How the job hunt works in the Pee Dee.
Switching fields without starting over.
A quick, honest read on where things stand. These are regional figures, so treat them as a guide and verify specifics before you decide anything.
5.2%
Area Unemployment
5
Largest Industries
#1
Fastest-Growing Field
$116K
Top-Paying Field
22%
Below National Avg Cost
Florence area unemployment was about 5.2% in late 2025, running a little above South Carolina's statewide rate of 4.9%. The market is active but uneven, which is exactly why a plan helps.
The largest industries in the Pee Dee are government, retail, accommodation and food service, health care, and manufacturing.
Healthcare support is the fastest-growing job category in the region.
The highest-paying fields are management, averaging around $116,000, and healthcare practitioner roles, averaging around $103,600.
Florence's cost of living runs about 22% below the national average, so your pay stretches further here than the same number would in a bigger city.
Growing
Pee Dee Economy
Top 5
SC Cities for Job Growth
4
Major Industry Sectors
29501
Where Careers Are Built
The largest and most established employers in Florence and the Pee Dee region.
Healthcare
The region's largest hospital and healthcare system, employing thousands in nursing, administration, and specialized medical roles.
View Open Positions →Education
A-rated school district employing teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and support staff across dozens of schools.
View Open Positions →Healthcare Technology
Leading manufacturer of medical equipment and healthcare technology, creating engineering and production jobs in Florence.
View Open Positions →Understanding where Florence's economy is strongest helps you position your career.
Largest employment sector in the Pee Dee, led by McLeod Health and MUSC Health Florence.
McLeod · MUSC · Community health centers
Growing sector with GE Healthcare and regional distribution centers driving new jobs.
GE Healthcare · UPS · Local manufacturers
Strong presence of public schools, universities, and technical colleges in Florence.
FMU · FDTC · School District 1
City, county, state, and federal employers provide stable employment opportunities.
City of Florence · Florence County · VA Hospital
Updated regularly. Positions across all major sectors in the Pee Dee.
For the most current job listings across all industries in Florence and the Pee Dee region, visit SC Works.
Browse All Jobs on SC Works →Training programs, certifications, and career development resources available right here in the Pee Dee.
Free career services including resume help, interview prep, job fairs, and job placement assistance for Florence residents.
Learn More →Short-term certifications, associate degrees, and workforce training programs designed around Florence's biggest industries.
Learn More →Career counseling, job board access, networking events, and employer connections for students and community members.
Learn More →Free career services including resume help, interview prep, and job placement assistance for Florence residents.
Free computer access, resume printing, LinkedIn workshops, and career resource guides.
Short-term certifications and workforce training programs designed around Florence's biggest industries.
Florence serves as the employment center of the Pee Dee region, offering a diverse job market that punches above its weight for a city of its size. Located at the strategic intersection of I-95 and I-20, Florence has established itself as a regional hub for healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, retail, and education.
While Florence isn't a major metropolitan area, it offers something increasingly rare: a place where your paycheck stretches further. The lower cost of living means you're likely to afford more house, have a shorter commute, and actually have time for the things that matter — all without sacrificing access to the amenities that make day-to-day life comfortable.
💡 Pro tip: Compare salaries to Charlotte, Columbia, or the coast, and you'll find Florence offers competitive pay with a noticeably lower cost of living.
These are the largest and most consistent employers in the Florence area.
The region's dominant healthcare system and one of the largest employers in the Pee Dee. McLeod Regional Medical Center is a major hub for clinical, administrative, and support roles.
A four-year public university offering faculty, staff, and administrative positions. One of Florence's most stable employers with excellent benefits.
The primary public school district serving Florence County, with consistent openings in teaching, administration, and support roles year-round.
Municipal government jobs ranging from public works and parks to administration and public safety. Stable employment with municipal benefits.
County government positions across a wide range of departments. Opportunities include roles in administration, health services, and public works.
Major healthcare employer serving the Florence area and broader Pee Dee region. Now part of the MUSC Health network.
Florence has two Walmart Supercenter locations and a Sam's Club, all of which regularly hire across retail, pharmacy, logistics, and management roles.
The city's premier entertainment and events venue regularly seeks event, operations, and hospitality staff for concerts, conferences, and community events.
GE has maintained a significant manufacturing presence in the Florence area, making it one of the region's most established industrial employers.
A global leader in scientific instrumentation and laboratory services with operations in the Florence area, offering technical, manufacturing, and support roles.
Located in nearby Timmonsville, Honda Manufacturing of South Carolina produces all-terrain vehicles and is one of the Pee Dee region's most significant manufacturing employers. Regularly hires for production, technical, and administrative roles.
Florence's location at the crossroads of I-95 and I-20 has made it a hub for distribution and logistics operations. QVC and other major distribution employers in the region regularly hire warehouse, operations, and logistics staff.
Florence is not standing still. Recent announcements point to more hiring ahead.
Cheney Brothers, a food distributor, is investing $42.5 million in a current expansion that adds 85 jobs, on top of earlier investment that brings its total in Florence County to $108.5 million. The company is actively hiring.
PRET Advanced Materials in Johnsonville announced an $18.5 million expansion creating 74 jobs, expected to come online by 2027.
Asset Technology Group, an IT services firm, relocated its headquarters to Florence and added 77 jobs.
Across northeastern South Carolina, employers announced more than $426 million in new investment and over 400 jobs in 2025. Check back, as this list updates.
This list covers major anchor employers. Florence also has a strong small business community — local restaurants, shops, and service businesses are often hiring and may not post on major job boards. Ask around.
You have more paths than anyone told you about.
The four-year degree is one road. It is not the only one, and in Florence it is often not the fastest one to a good paycheck. Some of the steadiest, best-paying work in the Pee Dee starts with a credential you can earn in a year or two, close to home.
Start with Florence-Darlington Technical College. FDTC offers more than 60 degree, diploma, and certificate programs across Florence and nearby campuses in Lake City, Mullins, and Hartsville. The short paths in healthcare, IT, the trades, and business are built to put you to work quickly, not to keep you in school for four years.
The money is more doable than you think. Most FDTC students get help paying for it. State programs like the SC WINS scholarship and Lottery Tuition Assistance, combined with federal aid, can cover most or all of the tuition for in-demand workforce programs. SC WINS alone can provide up to $5,000 a year toward a certificate, credential, diploma, or degree after your other aid is applied. On top of that, there are hundreds of local scholarships listed right here on this site that most students never hear about. Apply for everything. It is free to try.
Where these paths actually lead in Florence:
Healthcare support is the fastest-growing job category in the Pee Dee, and many roles start with a short credential.
Trades and manufacturing pay well, averaging around $76,000 a year across the region for people with hands-on skills.
Commercial driving and logistics are growing, with employers like Cheney Brothers hiring as new facilities open. Regional driver pay runs around $21 an hour.
You can also earn while you learn. Ask SC Works Pee Dee and FDTC about apprenticeships, where you get paid to work while you train. It is one of the smartest ways to start with no debt.
Staying in Florence is not settling. For a lot of these paths, it is the smart move. For the full set of youth jobs, scholarships, and opportunities, see Young Florence SC.
Your degree works here. Here is where.
You don't have to move to Charlotte or Columbia to use your degree. Florence has a real set of professional employers, and your dollar goes a lot further here while you build your career.
Who hires degreed roles in Florence:
McLeod Health and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center, the region's two major health systems, for clinical, administrative, and management roles.
Francis Marion University, one of the area's most stable employers, with strong benefits.
The City of Florence, Florence County, and Florence School District One, which hire across administration, public service, and education year-round.
The ceiling is higher than people assume. Management roles are among the highest-paid in the region, averaging around $116,000, and healthcare practitioner roles average around $103,600. The path to those does not require leaving town.
Use the FMU Career Center, even after you graduate. It is open to alumni, not just current students, and it posts community jobs alongside campus ones. Free resume reviews, mock interviews, and job search help are all on the table. If you went to FMU, you already have a head start, since most of your graduating class were South Carolina residents, and Florence would rather keep you than lose you.
Network the way professional roles actually get filled. Keep your LinkedIn current, connect with people at the employers above, and don't be shy about reaching out. In a city this size, a warm introduction goes a long way.
A good career and a low cost of living rarely come together. In Florence, they can.
You finished the program. Here's who hires it in Florence.
You did the hard part. You picked a skill, put in the hours, and walked out with a credential. The question nobody answers for you is the one that matters most: who in Florence actually hires this, and what does it pay?
Here's the short version, by what you trained in.
Commercial driving (CDL)
Logistics and distribution are growing fast in Florence, and they need drivers. Cheney Brothers, a food distributor, opened a large distribution facility here and is investing tens of millions more in a current expansion that adds dozens of jobs. They are actively hiring. Regional pay for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers runs around $21 an hour. Start with the Cheney Brothers careers page, then check the warehouses and carriers along the I-95 corridor.
Healthcare (CNA, medical assistant, phlebotomy, LPN, and more)
This is the safest bet in the region right now. Healthcare support is the fastest-growing job category in the Pee Dee, and the two systems that drive it are McLeod Health and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. Both hire across clinical and support roles all year. Apply directly through their career pages, and don't wait for a posting to look perfect before you reach out.
Skilled trades and manufacturing (welding, machining, industrial maintenance, HVAC, electrical)
Manufacturing pays some of the strongest wages in the area, averaging around $76,000 a year across the region. PRET Advanced Materials in Johnsonville is in the middle of an expansion that will add 74 jobs, with operations expected to come online by 2027. Innovative Construction Group and a deep bench of local plants hire trades steadily. If you have a hands-on credential, this is where the money is.
IT and tech certifications
Florence is quietly building a tech base. Asset Technology Group relocated its headquarters here and is hiring for technology and support roles. IT help-desk and infrastructure certs travel well, and many of these jobs also open the door to remote work later.
You don't have to leave Florence to use what you just learned. The work is here.
New here? Here is how the job hunt actually works in the Pee Dee.
Moving to a new place and looking for work at the same time is a lot. The good news is that Florence is small enough to learn quickly, and a little local knowledge goes a long way.
Make SC Works Pee Dee your first stop. It is the regional workforce center, and it is free. You'll find job listings, resume help, career coaching, interview prep, and computer access all in one place. Most newcomers don't know it exists, and that is exactly why it is worth knowing.
Learn who the major employers are, fast. A few names will come up again and again:
Healthcare: McLeod Health and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center are the two big systems, and they hire across clinical and support roles all year.
Stable public employers: Francis Marion University, the City of Florence, Florence County, and Florence School District One.
Manufacturing and logistics: a growing cluster along the I-95 corridor, including employers like Cheney Brothers and PRET Advanced Materials.
Staffing agencies can be a fast on-ramp. Several reputable agencies have offices serving Florence and the Pee Dee, and they can be a quick way into manufacturing, logistics, and office roles while you get your footing. Treat them as one tool among several, not your only one.
Know what your offer is really worth. Florence's cost of living runs about 22% below the national average, so a salary that sounds modest compared to a big metro often stretches noticeably further here. Factor that in when you compare offers.
You just made a great move. The work is here, and so is the welcome.
Switching lanes is normal here.
Changing careers in your thirties, forties, or later is not starting over. It's bringing everything you already know into a field that needs it. Florence has more room for that than people expect.
Your experience already counts. Before you think about retraining, take stock of what transfers. Managing people, handling money, hitting deadlines, keeping customers happy: every one of those is in demand across local employers. Management roles are among the highest-paid in the region, averaging around $116,000. You may be closer than you think.
Where to retrain fast, if you need to. You don't need another four-year degree to change direction. Florence-Darlington Technical College offers short credentials built for working adults, in healthcare, IT, trades, and business. SC Works Pee Dee can go further: if you're eligible, federal workforce funding can cover the cost of that training entirely. Ask them about it before you pay out of pocket.
The fields most open to career changers right now:
Healthcare support is the fastest-growing category in the Pee Dee, and many roles take a short credential rather than a degree.
Logistics and distribution are expanding, with employers like Cheney Brothers hiring as new facilities come online.
Manufacturing pays well, around $76,000 on average regionally, and values reliability over a specific background.
Keep your field, change your location. If you already have a career you like, the change you want might be geographic, not professional. Florence is a strong base for remote work: lower cost of living, short commutes, and an easy drive to Charlotte, Columbia, and the coast. See the Remote Work in Florence section.
People change lanes here all the time. The Pee Dee has room for the next version of you.
These are the most useful places to search for open positions in Florence and the surrounding Pee Dee region.
The primary workforce center serving Florence and the surrounding region. SC Works offers job listings, resume help, career coaching, interview prep, and free computer access.
Visit SC Works Pee DeeFilter by Florence, SC for the most current postings across all industries. Indeed aggregates listings from company career pages and other job boards.
Search Indeed JobsEspecially useful for professional, administrative, and management roles in Florence. Great for networking and building connections with local employers.
Browse LinkedIn JobsFor state government positions including agencies operating in Florence County. State jobs offer competitive benefits and pension plans.
Browse State JobsOpen to students and alumni of Francis Marion University, but also lists community job postings. A great resource even if you're not affiliated with FMU.
Visit FMU Career CenterFlorence is becoming an increasingly attractive option for remote workers. The city's lower cost of living, short commute times, and location within driving distance of major cities (Charlotte, Columbia, and the coast) make it an ideal base for distributed teams.
Downtown Florence has coffee shops and gathering spaces with reliable WiFi — making it an easy city to stay productive without being tied to a traditional office. There are coworking options emerging, and the overall pace of life supports productivity without the distractions of a major metro.
Lower Cost of Living
More house for your money
Short Commutes
Minutes, not hours
Central Location
Easy drives to major cities
A few simple things that make a real difference, no matter which path you're on.
One page if you can. Lead with what you can do, not just where you have been. List your credential or degree, the skills behind it, and any hands-on experience, including jobs that felt small. Local employers care about reliability and attitude as much as titles.
Be ready to answer these out loud before you walk in:
Why do you want to work here, specifically?
Tell me about a time you handled something difficult at work or school.
Are you dependable, and can you show it?
A short, polite thank-you message after an interview sets you apart more than you'd think. A day later is fine.
For most roles here, clean and put-together beats flashy. When in doubt, ask the employer what they expect.
SC Works Pee Dee and the FMU Career Center will review your resume and run mock interviews at no cost. There is no reason to do this alone.
Florence has solid workforce development infrastructure for people looking to upskill or change careers.
Offers technical degrees, certifications, and workforce training programs across healthcare, IT, trades, and business. FDTC is the region's primary source for practical, job-ready skills.
FDTC students and alumni can search and apply for jobs exclusively posted for the FDTC community through the FDTC Career Services portal .
Four-year degrees and graduate programs with strong ties to the local employer community. FMU offers day, evening, and online courses to fit working adults' schedules.
Free career coaching, resume help, and skills training for eligible job seekers. SC Works partners with local employers to provide training programs that lead directly to jobs.
Florence isn't a city where you come to coast. It's a city where your dollar goes further, your commute stays short, and you actually have time to build the life you're working toward. Whether you're job hunting, switching careers, or bringing your remote work here — the Pee Dee has room for you.
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